HISTORY 


SECOND  CHURCH,  OR  OLD  NORTE 


IN      BOSTON. 


TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  BRICK  CHURCH. 


WITH     ENGRAVINGS. 


BY    CHANDLER    ROBBINS, 


IHmSTEB  OF  THE  SECOND  CHUBCH. 


^ubl{0tl(1>  iiB  a  {Tommitiee  of  ttie  Societc- 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED   BY  JOHN   WILSON   &   SON, 

22,  School  Steeet. 

1852. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 

CHANDLER      ROBBINS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Freeman  Place,  Boston,  June  18,  1851. 

Rev.  Chandler  Robbins. 

Dear  Sir,  —  At  a  Special  Meeting  of  the  "  Standing  Committee  "  of  the 
Second  Church,  held  in  the  vestry  last  evening,  the  following  votes  w^cre 
unanimously  adopted  ;  and  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a  Committee  to 
transmit  the  same  to  j'ou,  and  to  solicit  a  compliance  with  the  request. 

With  sentiments  of  the  deepest  affection  and  respect, 

We  remain  truly  yours,  &c. 

F.  W.  Lincoln,  jun.,  "j 

David  Barnard,  V  Committee. 

Henry  Davis,  j 

"  Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Standing  Committee  be  presented  to  our 
Pastor  for  the  able  and  interesting  Historical  Discourses  preached  by  him  on 
the  last  sabbath,  in  commemoration  of  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of 
our  Church ;  and  that  he  be  requested  to  furnish  a  copy  for  the  press,  together 
with  such  other  matter  as  he  may  deem  advisable,  connected  with  the  early 
annals  of  our  ancient  Society. 

«'  Voted,  That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed,  in  connection  with  our 
Pastor,  to  superintend  the  publication  of  the  Discourses." 


PREFACE. 


The  substance  of  this  History  of  the  Second  or  Old  North 
Church  was  embodied  in  two  discourses  preached  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  its  Two  Hundred  and  First  Anniversary.  The  original 
form  in  which  the  material  was  cast,  to  adapt  it  to  delivery  from 
the  pulpit,  has  been  generally  preserved,  though  not  strictly  ad- 
hered to.  Wherever  it  seemed  necessary  or  proper,  in  making 
alterations  or  additions,  to  recognize  the  fact  that  I  was  preparing 
a  volume  for  publication,  I  have  done  so. 

A  division  into  three  periods  has  been  made,  partly  for  the 
convenience  of  the  reader,  and  partly  for  the  sake  of  typographical 
neatness. 

The  engravings  have  been  prepared  for  the  Avork  by  artists  of 
the  highest  reputation,  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Society.  It 
would  have  been  more  agreeable  to  me  to  have  introduced  por- 
traits of  all  the  pastors,  both  of  the  Second  Church  and  the  New 
Brick,  could  they  have  been  obtained,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
great  expense  which  so  many  engravings  would  have  involved. 
A  selection  Avas  absolutely  necessary,  and  the  Committee  of 
Publication  made  it.  Otherwise  the  last  portrait  in  the  book 
would  have  been  omitted. 

A  brief  history  of  the  New  Brick  Church,  to  which  an  explana- 
tory note  is  prefixed,  follows  that  of  the  Old  North. 

Considerable  matter  has  been  thrown  into  an  Appendix.  The 
temptation  was  strong  to  increase  it,  and  was  resisted  only  by 
considering  that  the  purpose  of  this  book  was  not  the  gratifica- 
tion of  an  antiquarian  taste.  The  value  of  the  long  catalogue 
of  "  Admissions  and  Baptisms,"  in  connection  with  the  Second 
Church,  will  be  appreciated  by  every  genealogist. 


CONTENTS 


HISTORY   OF  THE   SECOND   CHURCH. 

PAGE 

Introduction  to  Discourse 1 

First  Period,  from  1650  to  1723 4 

John  Mayo 9 

Increase  Mather 12 

SecoxXD  Period,  from  1723  to  1768 67 

Cotton  Mather 67 

Joshua  Gee 115 

Samuel  Mather 120 

Samuel  Chickley 123 

Third  Period,  from  1768  to  1851 125 

John  Lathrop 125 

Henry  Ware,  jun 130 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson 142 

Chandler  Robbins .  143 

HISTORY   OF  THE  NEW   BRICK   CHURCH. 

Prefatory  Note 167 

William  Waldron 181 

William  Welsteed 183 

Ellis  Gray 184 

Ebenezer  Pemberton 189 


APPENDIX. 


Appendix  to  History  of  the  Second  Church           ....  209 

Covenant         ...........  209 

Michael  Powell's  I^etter  to  the  Gpvernor  and  Magistrates            .  210 

Will  of  Increase  Mather 212 

Table  of  the  Mather  and  Cotton  Lineage 215 


vm  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Increase  Mather's  Family  Record,  from  his  Family  Bible       .        .  216 

Notice  of  Cotton  Mather's  Writings 217 

Form  of  Union  between  the  Second  Church  and  the  New  Brick  220 
Mr.  Robbins's  Letter  of  Resignation  to  the  Proprietors  of  the  New 

Meeting-house •         .         .         .         .  222 

Admissions  and  Baptisms  in  the  Second  Church        .        .        .  226 
Curious  Case  of  Conscience  of  John  Farnum         .         •        .        .291 

Interesting  and  Curious  Votes    .         .         .....  296 

Bill  of  Fare  for  Ordination,  1722 298 

Deacons  of  the  Second  Church 298 

Legacies  and  Donations  to  the  Second  Church       ....  299 
Address  to  the  Congregation  to  excite  them  to  raise  the  Minis- 
ter's Salary 300 

Mr.  Emerson's  Ordination 301 

Mr.  Robbins's  Ordination 301 

Restored  Covenant  of  the  Second  Church 301 

Library  of  the  Church 302 

Description  of  the  Communion  Plate          .....  302 

Social  Festival  at  the  Two  Hundred  and  First  Anniversary   .         .  303 

Hymn  written  for  the  Festival   .......  305 

Appendix  to  History  of  the  New  Brick  Church        ....  306 
Notice   of   Pamphlets  relating   to  Mr.  Thacher's   leaving  Wey- 
mouth         306 

Speech  of  the  Auctioneer  on  selling  the  Old  Clock    ,         .         .  308 

Names  of  Original  Associates  who  built  the  New  Brick  Church    .  309 

Ordination  and  Genealogical  Notice  of  William  Waldron  .         .  309 

Mr.  Welsteed's  Ordination 310 

Letters  of  Waldron.  —  Description  of  Prof.  Wigglesworth.  — 
Meeting  of  the  Overseers  of  Harvard  College,  1723.  —  Mr. 
Gee's  Ordination.  —  Christ  Church.  —  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of 
Portsmouth.  —  Mr.  Wigglesworth's  "  Sober  Remarks."  —  Sa- 
lute on  Sunday 310 

Rev.  William  Hooper          ........  314 

Ordination  and  Genealogical  Notice  of  Ellis  Gray          .         .         .  314 

Death  and  Funeral  of  Ellis  Gray 315 

Notices  of  Dr.  Pemberton  and  Sundry  Votes  .         .         .         .316 

Notices  of  Deacons  Tudor  and  Parkman 317 

Memoranda  and  Votes 319 


HISTORY  OP  THE  SECOND  CHURCH. 


HISTOEY 


THE    SECOND    CHURCH 


Ezra,  ix.  8,  9.  —  And  now  grace  hath  been  shoaved  from  the  Lord 
OUR  God  ;  for  our  God  hath  not  forsaken  us,  but  hath  extended 
mercy  to  us,  to  give  us  a  reviving,  to  set  up  the  house  of  our  God, 
and  to  repair  the  desolations  thereof,  and  to  give  us  a  wall  in 
JuDAH  AND  Jerusalem. 

Two  hundred  and  one  years  ago,  this  very  day,  the 
Second  Church  in  Boston  was  gathered.*  We  feel  it  to 
be  both  a  sacred  duty  and  a  high  privilege  to  set  apart 
this  occasion  to  a  review  of  its  history,  and  a  commemo- 
ration of  the  dealings  of  God  with  our  fathers  and  their 
children. 

*  The  Second  Church  was  gathered  on  the  fifth  day  of  June,  1650. 
This  discourse  was  preached  June  15,  1851. 

For  the  sake  of  those  who  may  not  understand  this  apparent  confu- 
sion of  dates,  a  brief  explanation  of  the  differences  of  style  is  subjoined. 
The  mode  of  reckoning  time  adopted  by  Julius  Csesar  was  used  in  Eng- 
land, and  in  this  country,  till  1752.  The  Julian  year  consisted  of  365^ 
days,  and,  consequently,  differed  from  the  true  solar  year  (365  days, 
6  hours,  48  minutes,  49-62  seconds)  by  an  excess  of  11  minutes,  10-35 
seconds.  This  small  annual  excess,  in  the  course  of  centuries,  produced 
a  difference  of  several  days  between  the  solar  and  civil  years.     In  1582, 

1 


25  HISTORY     OF 

At  the  commencement  of  the  third  century,  our  harps 
were  hanging  upon  the  willows.  Our  affairs  were  not 
in  a  condition  to  authorize  the  celebration  of  a  jubilee, 
or  to  make  it  certain  that  a  kind  Providence  intended 
"  to  give  us  a  reviving,  to  set  up  the  house  of  our  God." 
In  silence,  therefore,  we  passed  over  that  anniversary; 
though  not  in  gloom,  for  even  then  beams  of  promise 
were  breaking  upon  our  future  path,  and  that  happy 
arrangement  was  already  begun,  whose  consummation 
a  few  months  ago  has  given  us  a  secure  "wall,"  as  of 
old,  in  the  city  of  our  delight. 

But  we  must  pause  for  one  moment,  as  we  turn  our 
thoughts  backward.  We  cannot  chain  them  to  separate 
facts  in  this  long  history,  till  we  have  first  indulged  the 
feeling  that  comes  over  us  so  powerfully,  on  finding  our- 
selves once  more  established  in  safety  and  joy,  after  all 
our  wanderings  and  trials.  It  is  kindred  to  that  which 
rose  in  the  hearts  of  "  ransomed  Israel,"  when,  coming 
up  from  the  divided  sea,  their  feet  stood  once  more  upon 
the   dry  land.      It   is  of  mingled    adoration   and  wonder 

Pope  Gregory  XIII.,  finding  the  difference  to  have  greatly  increased, 
sought  to  correct  the  error  by  dropping  ten  days  from  the  calendai-. 
This  Gregorian  calendar  was  at  once  adopted  by  all  the  Romati  Catholic 
cotmtries.  But  the  Protestant  States  of  Germany  and  the  kingdom  of  Den- 
mark adhered  to  the  old  Julian  method  till  1700  ;  and  England,  with  its  colo- 
nies, till  1752.  By  act  of  Parliament  in  that  year,  the  Julian  calendar,  or 
Old  Style,  as  it  was  called,  was  abolished,  and  the  date  used  in  public 
documents  made  to  conform  to  that  employed  in  other  European  countries, 
by  dropping  eleven  days,  and  calUng  the  day  following  the  second  of  Septem- 
ber, 1752,  the  fourteenth  of  September. 

To  adjust  the  difference  between  the  Old  Style  and  the  New,  ten 
days  are  to  be  added  to  any  date  from  1600  to  1700,  and  eleven  days  to  a 
date  from  1700  to  Sept.  14,  1752. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  6 

and  gratitude.  And  it  can  find  no  better  utterance, — 
none  more  grateful  to  itself,  or  more  pleasing,  perhaps, 
to  Him  to  whom  it  rises,  —  than  in  the  consecrated  words 
of  the  very  same  psalm  to  which  the  ear  of  God  then 
graciously  listened,  and  whose  glad  peals  echoed  from 
the  Red  Sea  behind  to  the  wilderness  of  Shur  before, 
when  Moses  sang,  and  all  the  men  joined  in  chorus ; 
while  Miriam  and  all  the  women,  with  their  timbrels, 
responded,  —  "  The  Lord  hath  triumphed  gloriously.  The 
Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  song ;  and  he  is  become 
my  salvation.  He  is  my  God,  and  I  will  prepare  him  an 
habitation ;  my  fathers'  God,  and  I  will  exalt  him.  Who 
is  Hke  unto  thee,  O  Lord !  among  the  gods  ?  Who  is 
like  thee,  glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in  praises,  doing 
wonders  ?  " 

The  old  field  from  which  I  have  gleaned  a  few  sheaves 
has  been  partially  reaped  before.  Thirty  years  ago,  at  the 
completion  of  a  century  from  the  building  of  the  Old 
Meeting  House  in  Hanover-street,  —  now  removed  from 
our  eyes,  but  never  to  be  displaced  from  our  hearts,  —  two 
discourses  were  preached  by  Rev.  Henry  Ware,  jun. ;  one 
on  the  history  of  the  New  Brick  Church,  and  the  other  on 
that  of  the  Old  North,  or  Second  Church.  Like  every 
thing  else  which  he  undertook,  that  commemorative  work 
was  well  done.  But  it  is  obvious,  that  within  the  limits 
of  a  single  sermon  it  would  be  impossible  to  recount  every 
particular  worth  remembering  throughout  the  long  period 
which  he  reviewed.  Besides,  his  interesting  discourses  are 
not  now  to  be  procured ;  whilst  several  sources  of  informa- 
tion, not  accessible  to   him,  have  come  to  light  since  he 


4  HISTORY     OF 

wrote,  and  events  of  no  inconsiderable  moment  to  this 
church  have  contributed  a  painful  interest  to  the  close  of 
its  second  century. 

For  these  reasons,  as  well  as  from  respect  to  the 
general  request  of  this  congregation,  it  has  seemed  to 
me  not  only  proper,  but  necessary,  that  I  should  undertake 
to  lay  before  you  a  thorough  and  minute  history  of  our 
venerable  church. 


FIRST    PERIOD. 

From  the  Institution  of  the  Church,  1650,  to  1723. 


JOHN  MAYO.  —  INCREASE  MATHER. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  Boston,  not  twenty  years 
had  elapsed  at  the  period  when  our  history  begins.  But,  in 
that  short  interval,  a  wonderful  change  had  been  effected 
in  the  aspect  of  this  little  peninsula.  Tangled  thickets  had 
given  place  to  pleasant  streets,  dark  forests  to  smiling  gar- 
dens, and  barren  wastes  to  fruitful  fields.  Low  cabins  and 
tents  of  cloth  had  been  exchanged  for  large  dwellings  and 
convenient  stores,  some  even  of  brick  and  tile  and  stone. 
Wharves  stretched  into  the  harbor.  Ships  of  various 
nations  rode  at  anchor  in  the  bay,  and  all  things  gave 
early  promise  of  a  thriving  and  powerful  city.  The  little 
cluster  of  buildings  which  had  hitherto  closely  nestled  for 
safety  between  the  three  hills  —  which  were  then  crowned 
with    forts    and   batteries   of   cannon,   "  like   overtopping 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  O 

towers"  keeping  watch  and  ward  over  the  feeble  colony 
beneath  them  —  was  spreading  over  the  plains,  and  wind- 
ing out  through  the  valleys,  and  climbing  up  the  heights. 

It  was  only  seventeen  years  since  the  First  Church  had 
been  founded.  Yet  within  that  time  its  original  house,  with 
thatched  roof  and  walls  of  mud,  —  "which  had  enclosed 
some  of  the  noblest  and  choicest  spirits  that  ever  bore  the 
Christian  name;"  in  which  Winthrop  and  Dudley  had 
worshipped,  the  venerable  Wilson  taught,  and  the  eloquent 
Cotton  preached,  —  had  made  room  for  a  more  spacious 
and  comfortable  edifice.  And  now  that  also  was  insuffi- 
cient. The  town  had  grown  so  populous  that  still  another 
was  required.  The  northern  part  especially  felt  the  need 
of  such  accommodation.  Its  inhabitants  were  fast  multi- 
plying; and  amongst  them  were  numbered  some  of  the 
most  respectable  and  wealthy.  In  those  days,  to  feel  such 
a  want  was  to  have  it  supplied. 

The  object  dearest  to  the  hearts  of  om*  fathers  was  the 
house  of  God.  This  was  the  centre,  not  only  of  their  affec- 
tions, but  of  their  settlements.  To  rear  it  was  their  first 
care,  theii  united  zeal.  Around  it  their  houses  were 
bunded.  Close  to  it  they  fixed  their  habitations,  —  guard- 
ing it  whilst  it  defended  them ;  encircling  it  whilst  it  shel- 
tered them ;  providing  for  it  whilst  it  blessed,  and  praying 
for  it  whilst  it  hallowed  them.  It  was  a  holy  and  beautiful 
sentiment,  it  is  amongst  the  most  precious  tokens  of  then- 
piety,  that  they  consulted  with  such  reverential  care  for 
the  sanctuary  and  worship  of  God.  It  marks  the  grand 
principle  which  prompted  their  enterprise,  which  guided 
and  governed  their  movements,  which  lay  at  the  founda- 


O  HISTORY     OF 

tion  of  their  institutions,  and  which  communicated  to  their 
arduous  undertaking  an  unconquerable  impulse,  an  irre- 
sistible energy.  It  is  an  evidence  of  that  spirit  of  religious 
devotedness  to  which  we  are  indebted,  more  than  to  all 
things  else,  for  the  highest  glories  which  have  adorned  our 
country,  and  the  choicest  blessings  which  have  enriched 
our  inheritance. 

For  such  reasons,  and  under  the  influence  of  such  sen- 
timents, the  foundation  of  the  Second  Church-edifice  in 
Boston  was  laid,  in  1649,  at  the  head  of  North  Square. 
We  are  told,  to  the  credit  of  the  minister  of  the  First  Church, 
Mr.  Cotton,  that  with  laudable  liberality  and  self-denial  he 
favored  and  encouraged  the  undertaking,  notwithstanding 
it  might  draw  away  parishioners  from  himself.  "  His 
name,"  says  the  quaintest  of  New  England's  historians, 
"  was  John ;  and,  like  the  great  forerunner  of  Jesus  who 
bore  the  same  appellation,  he  reckoned  his  joy  fulfilled  in 
this,  that  in  his  own  decrease  the  interests  of  his  Master 
would  increase.^''  It  would  be  pleasant  to  be  able  to  find 
some  description  or  picture  of  this  our  first  temple.  But 
none  such  has  come  down  to  us.  The  only  notice  we  have 
of  it,  and  which  is  altogether  incidental,  is  sufficient  to 
pique  our  curiosity.  Our  church-records  give  us  reason 
to  suppose,  that  some  of  the  pews  were  accommodated 
with  private  doors  through  the  side  of  the  house  into  the 
street,  —  for  what  purpose,  or  according  to  what  style  of 
architecture,  or  in  what  manner  constructed,  we  are  left 
wholly  to  conjectm'e.  No  account  has  been  discovered  of 
its  first  occupancy,  or  its  formal  consecration.  The  first 
sermon  preached  in  it,  of  which  we  have  information,  was 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  7 

at  the  gathering  of  the  church,  on  the  fifth  day  of  June, 
1650.  The  original  members,  who  were  on  that  day- 
united  by  covenant,  were  these  seven :  Michael  Powell, 
James  Ashwood,  Christopher  Gibson,  John  Phillips,  George 
Davis,  Michael  Wills,  and  John  Farnham.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  this  covenant  was  not  doctrinal,  but  practical ; 
not  a  declaration  of  belief,  but  an  obligation  to  Christian 
duty. —  (See  Appendix  A.) 

The  preacher  on  that  occasion  was  Samuel  Mather,* 
then  but  a  young  man,  yet  already  giving  promise  of  the 
high  abilities  which  he  afterwards  displayed.  He  was  born 
in  England ;  but,  arriving  in  Boston  when  nine  years  old, 
finished  his  education  in  the  college  at  Cambridge,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  second  class  that  graduated  at  that  institution. 
He  was  the  first  who  held  the  office  of  fellow,  then  the 
same  as  tutor,  at  Harvard ;  and  is  said  to  have  been  so 
much  beloved  by  the  students  that  "they  put  on  tokens  of 
mourning  in  their  very  garments  when  he  resigned."  The 
sermon  alluded  to  called  forth  warm  encomiums  even  from 
the  grave  Hps  of  Cotton  ;  and  the  new  society  eagerly 
solicited  him  to  become  their  minister.  He  consented  to 
remain  with  them  for  only  a  few  months ;  at  the  expiration 
of  which,  to  then*  great  disappointment,  as  well  as  to 
that  of  several  other  congregations  that  wished  his  services, 
he  returned  to  his  native  country,  where  he  ended  his  days 
in  usefulness  and  honor.  "  Afterward,  Mr.  Norton,  minister 
of  Ipswich,  who  two  years  after  became  minister  of  the 
First  Church  here,  and  Mr.  Davenport,  of  New  Haven,  who 

*  Son  of  Rev.  Richard  Mather.     See  note  on  page  13. 


»  HISTORY     OF 

seventeen  years  after  also  accepted  a  call  from  the  First 
Church, —  both  of  them  amongst  the  distinguished  men  of 
that  period,  —  and  sundry  others  who  were  officers  in  other 
churches,  but  likely  to  remove  from  their  places,  were 
invited,  with  no  better  success,  to  take  charge  of  this  infant 
church."  * 

In  this  dilemma,  the  church  were  content  to  have  their 
worship  conducted  by  one  of  their  own  number,  the  first- 
named  of  the  original  seven,  Michael  Powell.  His  services 
were  so  satisfactory  that  the  church  would  have  proceeded 
to  ordain  him  as  their  teacher,  had  not  the  civil  authority 
interfered.  Their  objection  to  him  was  that  he  was  "  illit- 
erate as  to  academical  education."  They  would  not  suffer 
an  unlearned  man  to  be  called  to  the  teaching  office  "  in 
such  a  place  as  Boston."  "  He  might  have  talents  and  a 
fine  spirit,"  they  argued,  "  and  still  not  be  competent  to 
instruct  the  educated,  explain  the  Scriptures,  and  convince 
the  unbelieving.  If  such  men  intrude  themselves  into  the 
sacred  function,  there  is  danger  of  bringing  the  profession 
into  contempt.  If  an  exception  should  be  made  in  the  case 
of  Mr.  Powell  by  reason  of  his  peculiar  gifts,  it  might 
establish  a  dangerous  precedent."  f  And  so  jealous  were 
the  civil  fathers  of  this  country  of  evil  consequences  to  the 
churches,  that  they  did  not  permit  even  the  ministers  to 
control  the  business  of  ordination,  lest  some  of  them,  more 
pious  than  judicious,  might  admit  to  the  pulpit  illiterate 
men  by  reason  of  their  earnestness  and  piety.  This  was 
not  a  solitary  instance  of  such  interference  on  the  part  of 

*  Church  Records.  f  Mass.  Hist.  Collections. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  » 

the  General  Court  in  ecclesiastical  affairs.  Indeed,  it  was 
one  of  their  orders,  that  no  minister  should  be  called  into 
office  in  any  of  the  churches  within  their  jurisdiction,  with- 
out the  allowance  and  approbation  of  some  of  the  magis- 
trates, as  well  as  some  of  the  neighboring  churches. 

If  we  may  judge  of  Mr.  Powell's  character  by  a  singu- 
lar paper  addressed  by  him,  by  way  of  explanation  and 
apology,  to  the  "  honored  Governor  and  Magistrates,"  he 
seems  at  least  not  to  have  been  deficient  in  humility,  gen- 
tleness, and  respect  for  rulers.  —  (See  Appendix  B.) 

After  having  remained  without  a  pastor  for  four  years, 
it  happened  that  Mr.  John  Mayo,  "on  account  of  some 
difficulties  and  discouragements,"  left  his  church  at  Nosset 
in  Plymouth  County ;  who,  being  both  available  and  suita- 
ble, was  invited  to  the  pastoral  office  here,  and  ordained 
the  ninth  of  November,  1655.  At  the  same  time,  Mr. 
Powell  was  ordained  as  ruling  elder  of  the  church.* 

*  '*  The  name  elders  (who  are  also  in  Scripture  called  bishops)  includes 
those  who  attend  to  the  ministry  of  the  word,  as  pastors  and  teachers, 
and  those  who  attend  especially  unto  rule,  who  are  therefore  called  ruling 
elders.  They  are  not  so  called,  however,  as  to  exclude  the  former  from  rule 
and  government ;  because  these  offices  are  common  to  both,  though  teach- 
ing and  preaching  are  peculiar  to  the  former. 

"  The  ruling  elder's  work  is  to  join  with  the  pastor  and  teacher  in  those 
acts  of  spiritual  rule  which  are  distinct  from  the  ministry  of  the  word  and 
sacraments.  Of  which  sort  are  the  following: —  1.  To  open  and  shut  the 
doors  of  God's  house,  by  the  admission  of  members  approved  by  the  church. 
2.  To  call  the  church  together  when  there  is  occasion,  and  seasonably  to  dis- 
miss them  again.  3.  To  prepare  matters  in  private,  that  in  public  they  may  be 
carried  to  an  end  with  less  trouble  and  more  speedy  despatch.  4.  To  moderate 
the  carriage  of  all  matters  in  the  church  assembled ;  as,  to  propound  matters 
to  the  church  ;  to  order  the  season  of  speech  and  silence ;  and  to  pronounce 
sentence,  according  to  the  mind  of  Christ,  with  the  consent  of  the  church. 
5.  To  be  guides  and  leaders  to  the  church  in  all  matters  whatsoever  pertain- 

2 


10  HISTORY     OF 

Of  our  first  pastor  little  is  known.     It  is  probable  that 
he    was    not   a   distinguished    man  ;    otherwise,   from    his 
advantageous  and  honorable  position,  some  notice  of  him 
would  have  come  down  to  us.     He  had  passed  the  prime 
of  life  when  he  entered  upon  his  ministry  with  this  church, 
and  was  perhaps  beginning  to  lose  his  vigor,  as  well  of 
mind  as  of  body.     It  seems  probable  that  he  did  not  extend 
his  labors  or  influence  beyond  the  boundaries  of  his  own 
parish.     The  only  allusion,  I  believe,  ever  found  to  his  cha- 
racter is  contained  in  a  single  sentence,  which  I  chanced 
lately  to  discover  in  the  preface  to  a  sermon  by  his  asso- 
ciate. Increase  Mather,  of  whom  I  shall  soon  speak.      He 
says  that  "  he  was  a  blessing  to  his  people ;  and  that  they 
tyvo  —  pastor  and   teacher  —  lived   together   in   love   and 
peace  for  the  space  of  eleven  years."     In  1672,  it  is  stated 
in  the  records  of  our  church,  that  Mr.  Mayo  grew  so  infirm 
that  the  congregation  were  not  able  to  hear  and  be  edified ; 
when,  with  his  own  consent,  the  brethren  voted  to  release 
him  from  the  burden  of  supplying  the  pulpit.     It  is  also 
written,  that  in  1673  he  removed  from  Boston  to  Barnsta- 
ble, to  reside  with  his  daughter ;    and  there,  and  at  Yar- 
mouth, spent  the  residue  of  his  life  in  quiet  and  retirement. 
He  died  at  Yarmouth  in  May,  1676,  and  was  there  buried. 
I  have  been  pleased  to  discover,  amongst  some  very  ancient 
receipts,  several  signed  by  Mr.  Mayo's  son,  on  behalf  of  his 

ing  to  chiirch  administrations  and  actions,  6.  To  see  that  none  in  the  church 
live  inordinately,  out  of  rank  and  place,  wthout  a  calling,  or  idly  in  their 
calling.  7.  To  prevent  and  heal  such  offences  in  life  or  in  doctrine  as  might 
corrupt  the  church.     8.  To  feed  the  flock  of  God  with  a  word  of  admonition. 

9.  As  they  shall  be  sent  for,  to  visit  and  pray  over  their  sick  brethren,  — 

10.  And  at  other  times,  as  opportunity  shall  serve  thereunto." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  11 

aged  father,  after  he  had  gone  to  Barnstable,  which  prove 
the  fact,  creditable  to  the  church,  that,  though  their  aged 
pastor  had  ceased  to  serve  them,  they  did  not  cease  to 
remember  his  former  labors,  which  had  lasted  as  long  as 
his  strength,  nor  seize  an  excuse,  that  has  often  been 
found  by  rehgious  societies,  for  neglecting  to  comfort  him 
in  his  declining  years.  This  provision  was  continued,  as 
the  receipts  indicate,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Powell  also,  the  ruling  elder,  who,  soon  after  his  appoint- 
ment to  that  office,  became  disabled  by  an  attack  of  para- 
lysis, and  through  sickness  reduced  to  poverty,  was  liberally 
remembered  in  the  charitable  distribution  of  the  church. 

By  an  account  of  the  treasurer  of  the  church,  almost 
illegible,  it  appears  that  he  was  buried  the  thirty-first  of 
January,  1672-3.*  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  illustra- 
tive of  the  funeral  customs  of  the  period,  that,  though  the 
whole  cost  of  the  funeral  was  ten  pounds  and  four  shillings, 
only  six  shillings  were  paid  for  the  grave,  and  six  shil- 
lings for  the  coffin ;  whilst  three  pounds  and  seventeen 
shillings  were  spent  for  wine,  and  five  pounds  fifteen  shil- 
lings for  gloves.f 

*  As  by  the  "  Old  Style  "  the  year  began  in  March,  there  is  often  a  con- 
fusion of  dates  before  the  year  1752,  when  the  "New  Style"  was  adojDted; 
in  some  cases  a  doubt  arising  whether  January,  February,  and  a  part  of 
March,  closed  the  old  year  or  began  the  new.  This  caused  the  practice  of 
double-dating,  which  we  often  see,  —  for  example,  January,  1649-50.  After 
the  25th  of  March,  the  Old  and  New  Styles  agree  as  to  the  year.  If  the 
event  dated  occtirred  before  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  in  any  year,  it  is  best 
to  give  the  date  as  if  the  year  began  in  January. 

t  While  the  pastor,  teacher,  and  ruling  elder,  were  in  active  service, 
they  were  paid  according  to  the  proportion  indicated  in  the  subjoined  vote :  — 

"  21st  day  of  the  6th  mo.,  1662. 

"  The  Church  of  the  North  End  of  Boston  met  at  Bro.  Collicott's,  and 


12 


HISTORY     OF 


We  have  now  reached  a  period  from  which  dates  a  new 
and  bright  era  in  the  affairs  of  this  church,  —  at  which  I 
might  say  its  history  virtually  commences.     For  before  that 
time  it  had  only  a  name  to  live.      No  records  had  been 
kept ;   no  quickening  impulse  had    been  given  to  it ;    no 
vigorous  growth  had  begun.      I  refer  to  the  year   1664, 
in  which,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  May,  Increase  Mather 
was  ordained  teacher  ;    a   man  whose   name   is   not  only 
identified  with  the  early  civil  and  ecclesiastical  annals  of 
New  England,  but  with  the  history  of  this  church  for  sixty- 
two  years,  or  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole  period  of  our 
present    survey.       Hjs    character    has   been    several   times 
sketched,  and  was  very  justly  delineated   by  Mr.  Ware. 
But  it  has  been  more  than  once  misrepresented;  and,  I 
grieve  to  say,  by  some  in  our  own  day,  whose  accustomed 
integrity  and  fairness  only  render  their  severe  judgment  in 
this  instance  more  remarkable  and  more  injurious.     Indeed, 
such  confidence  had  I  been  taught  to  repose  in  the  accu- 
racy and  justice  of  their  historical  views  and  statements, 
that  I  had  myself  prejudged  the  case  against  this  venerable 
predecessor,  and  supposed  the  judgment  to  be  fully  author- 
ized, before  I  had  occasion  to  search  more  carefully,  as  I 

there  did  agree  that  Mr.  Mayo  should  have,  out  of  what  is  given  to  the  church 
annually,  sixty-five  pounds  ;  and  Mr.  Mather  fifty  pounds,  and  Mr.  Powell 
twenty-five  pounds ;  and  this  annually,  provided  they  that  have  engaged 
perform  their  engagement.  And,  of  the  Contribution,  Mr.  Mayo  to  have 
twenty  shillings  weekly,  and  Mr.  Mather  twenty,  and  Mr.  Powell  fifteen 
shillings  weekly,  —  provided  the  contribution  hold  out ;  and,  if  it  abate,  each 
one  of  the  above-said  to  abate  according  to  proportion ;  and  if  the  contribu- 
tion superabound,  then  the  overplus  to  be  kept  in  the  hands  till 

occasion  call  for  it,  and  then  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  church's  order. 
And  to  this  we  are  all  agreed." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH,  13 

have  recently  done,  the  authorities  in  the  case  for  myself. 
From  this  research,  I  have  come  away  profoundly  im- 
pressed with  the  worth  and  piety  of  this  "  patriarch  of  New 
England,"  and  irresistibly  moved  to  do,  as  well  as  I  may 
be  able,  the  duty  that  devolves  upon  me,  in  this  place  and 
on  this  occasion,  of  vindicating  his  memory  from  unjust 
aspersions,  and  holding  up  for  your  respect  and  love  a  true 
image  of  his  vii-tues. 

The  stock  from  which  he  descended  was  of  the  best; 
for  his  ancestors  were  righteous  and  godly.  Better  than 
kingly  blood  flowed  in  his  veins ;  for  it  came  through  pure 
hearts  and  vktuous  lives.  His  father  was  the  Rev.  Richard 
Mather,  the  faithful  and  valuable  minister  of  Dorchester,  in 
this  State,  one  of  the  noble  company  of  those  who  were 
ejected  from  the  English  Church  for  nonconformity  to  cere- 
monies against  which  their  consciences  revolted.  Driven 
from  his  sacred  charge,  which  he  was  faithfully  fulfilling  in 
England,  and  obliged  to  fly  in  disguise  from  his  persecu- 
tors, he  had  joined  the  goodly  band  of  confessors  and  pil- 
grims who  "  sought  a  faith's  pure  shrine  "  on  these  western 
shores.  Surely,  my  friends,  no  Christian  minister  would 
ask  a  nobler  lineage  than  that  which  is  emblazoned  with 
the  brightest  of  all  ensigns,  the  memorials  of  sacrifices  and 
triumphs  for  conscience  and  the  truth !  * 

*  Richard  Mather  was  born  A.D.  1596,  in  Lowton,  Lancaster  County. 
His  parents  were  of  ancient  families,  though  poor.  In  early  life,  his  zeal  for 
learning,  for  which  the  family  in  general  were  so  remarkable,  was  so  great 
that  he  used  to  walk  four  miles  to  school.  The  extreme  severity  of  the 
master,  however,  almost  quenched  the  young  pupil's  enthusiasm.  Though 
he  was  a  bright  and  diligent  boy,  the  teacher  used  to  "  beat  him  eight  times 
a-day,  whether  in  fault  or  not ; "  so  that  he  begged  his  father  to  take  him 


14  HISTORY     OF 

That  such  was  the  feehng  of  Richard  Mather's  own 
children,  and  that  they  were  early  moved  to  emulate  their 
father's  virtues,  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  four  of 
his  sons  devoted  themselves  to  the  ministry.  The  young- 
est of  these  was  our  Increase,  who  was  born  in  Dorchester, 
the  twenty-first  of  June,  1639. 

from  study,  and  dispose  of  him  to  some  other  calling.  But  his  father  was 
inexorable ;  and  the  son  afterwards  praises  him  for  refusing  his  request,  but 
adds,  with  great  feeling,  •'  But  oh  that  all  schoolmasters  would  learn  wis- 
dom, moderation,  and  equity  towards  their  scholars,  and  seek  rather  to  win 
the  hearts  of  children,  by  righteous,  loving,  and  courteous  usage,  than  to 
alienate  their  minds  by  partiality  and  undue  severity,  which  had  heen  my  utter 
zmdoinff,  had  not  the  good  providence  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  and  authority 
of  my  father,  prevented.  He  began  to  preach  in  1618  :  married  Katharine 
Hoult,  daughter  of  Edmund  Hoult,  Esq.  of  Bury,  in  Lancashire,  —  "a  godly 
and  prudent  maid,"  —  Sept.  29,  1624.  By  her  he  had  six  sons:  four  born 
in  England,  namely,  Samuel,  Timothy,  Nathaniel,  Joseph ;  and  two  in  New 
England,  Eleazer  and  Increase. 

The  reasons  which  induced  him  to  leave  England,  as  drawn  up  by  himself, 
show  not  only  the  conscientiousness  of  the  man,  but  are  a  striking  evidence 
also  of  the  true  motives  which  influenced  those  who  first  came  over  to  this 
country.  They  are  all  of  a  religious  nature.  He  sailed  from  Bristol,  May 
23,  1635.  His  interesting  and  curious  journal  of  this  voyage  has  been  pub- 
lished, together  with  his  "  Life  and  Death,"  by  the  Dorchester  Historical 
Society.  He  arrived  in  Boston,  Aug.  17,  1635.  The  church  at  Dorchester 
("  the  first  church  planted  there  having  removed  to  Warham,  Conecticot") 
was  constituted  Aug.  23,  1636  ;  and  Mr.  Mather  was  chosen  teacher,  and 
continued  in  charge  of  the  church  thirty-four  years.  He  was  a  studious, 
devout,  and  faithful  minister,  of  solid  judgment  and  stern  integrity.  He 
was  "much  improved"  in  the  management  of  controversies,  then  warmly 
agitated,  concerning  church-government ;  author  of  several  important  works 
on  this  point ;  and  one  of  three  appointed  by  the  synod  at  Cambridge,  in 
1647,  to  draw  up  the  "  Platform  of  Discipline."  There  were  few  councils 
or  ordinations  in  which  he  had  not  a  part.  With  Eliot  and  Welde,  he  was 
selected  to  make  a  new  metrical  translation  of  the  Psalms,  —  the  "  New 
England  Version,"  printed  at  Cambridge,  in  1640,  —  which  continued  in 
general  use  by  the  churches  for  many  years,  and  was  by  several  eminent 
congregations  in  England  preferred  to  all  others.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  he  married  the  -wddow  of  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  of  Boston.     He 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH. 


15 


His  singular  Christian  name  is  said  to  have  been  given 
to  him  in  gratitude  to  God  for  the  providential  increase  and 
prosperity  of  the  colony  at  that  early  date.f  If  so,  it  might 
seem  to  be  not  only  commemorative,  but  prophetic;  for 
probably  no  person  in  any  country  was  ever  able  to  look 
back  upon  such  a  wonderful  and  rapid  career  of  national 
advancement  as  excited  his  thanks,  when,  in  his  old  age, 
he  reviewed  what  he  had  seen  of  New  England's  growth ; 
which,  as  much  perhaps  as  any  other  man,  he  had  labored 
and  helped  to  promote. 

But  the  source  of  his  virtuous  inclination  is  not  to  be 
traced  only  on  the  father's  side.  Happily  for  him,  the 
spring  was  as  pure  on  the  mother's.  We  hear  nothing, 
indeed,  of  her  consent  and  assistance  to  the  self-sacrifice 
which  brought  their  family  from  English  comfort  to  New 
England  hardship.  But  we  never  doubt,  when  we  read 
with  reverence  the  story  of  the  Puritan  fathers,  that  the 
Puritan  mothers  also  went  side  by  side  with  their  husbands 
in  every  impulse  of  Christian  emotion,  and  every  movement 

died  April  ^2,  1669,  aged  seventy-three  years.     The  following  is  his  epitaph, 
in  Dorchester  Burying  Ground :  — 

Dom  Sacer 

Eichardus  Hie  Dormit  Mathems 

(Sed  nee  Totus  nee  Mora  Diutuma) 

Laetatus  Genuisse  Pares 
Ineertum  est  utrum  Doetior  an  Melior 
Animum  &  Gloria  non  Queunt  Ilumari 

Diuinely  Rieli  &  Learned  Richard  Mather 
Sons  Eke  Him  Prophets  Great  Reioiccd  this  Father 
Short  Time  His  Sleeping  Dust  heres  couerd  down 
Not  His  Ascended  Spirit  or  Rinown. 

U.  D.  M.    In  Aug.  In  Dorc :  N  A  34  An 
Obt  Apr.  22  1669    Aet  suae  73 

t  "  If  he  might  have  had  an  Hebrew  instead  of  an  English  name,  I 
suppose  it  must  have  been  Joseph,  which  is  of  the  like  significancy."  —  Cot- 
ton Mather. 


16  HISTORY     OF 

of  holy  duty ;  that,  in  the  privacy  of  thek  homes,  they 
helped  to  nerve  them  for  their  sternest  struggles  of  con- 
science ;  and  when  the  brave  act  of  faith  was  done,  and 
the  fearful  recompence  of  their  integrity  dealt  to  then*  hus- 
bands, that  they  richly  rewarded  them  with  their  cordial 
sympathy,  and  sweetly  soothed  them  with  their  gentle 
love. 

That  such  praise  attaches  to  the  mother  of  Mather,  the 
characters  of  her  children  are  a  sufficient  proof.  One  or 
two  of  her  favorite  maxims  are  a  striking  index  to  her  spirit. 
By  means  of  them,  we  can  easily  picture  to  ourselves  what 
sort  of  a  woman  she  was,  and  construct  her  character. 
"  My  child,"  she  often  said  to  the  young  Increase,  "  if  God 
make  thee  a  good  scholar  and  a  good  Christian,  thou  wilt 
have  all  thy  mother  ever  asked  for  thee."  Her  daily  pro- 
verb was,  "  Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  business,  he  shall 
stand  before  kings :  he  shall  not  stand  before  mean  men." 
And  her  last  saying,  amid  the  solemnity  of  death,  was  the 
sublime  and  kindling  promise  of  the  Scriptures :  " '  They 
that  be  wise,'  my  son,  '  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the 
firmament ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as 
the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.' "  Are  not  these  materials 
enough  for  her  moral  portraiture  ?  Diligence,  love  of  sound 
learning  coupled  with  Christian  goodness,  and  high  aspi- 
ration after  heavenly  glory,  —  with  these  grand  features 
before  him,  who  could  not  fill  up  the  outlines  ?  And  these 
very  traits,  —  it  is  worthy  of  remembrance  as  another 
amongst  innumerable  proofs  of  the  power  and  endurance 
of  maternal  counsel  when  impressed  by  maternal  character, 
—  and  it  ought  to  be  spoken  of  to  her  honor,  for  she  who 


THE    SECOND     CHURCH.  17 

nurtures  a  faithful  man  deserves  honorable  mention  when- 
ever his  virtues  are  recounted,  —  these  very  traits  are 
amongst  the  most  prominent  characteristics  of  her  son.* 

It  is  a  sufficient  evidence  of  his  diligence,  as  well  as 
his  capacity,  that  he  entered  Harvard  College  at  the  early 
age  of  twelve  years.  After  he  had  lived  a  year  at  the  col- 
lege, his  parents,  fearing  that  some  things  there  might  not 
suit  his  constitution,  which  they  supposed  to  be  feeble,  and 
wishing  to  have  him  under  a  more  than  ordinary  inspection 
and  instruction,  sent  him  to  live  with  the  famous  Mr.  Nor- 
ton, of  Ipswich,  with  whom  he  removed  to  Boston  in  1653, 
*and  under  whose  tuition  he  continued  several  years. 

Whilst  a  pupil  with  Mr.  Norton,  his  conversion  took 
place.  Of  this  event  he  has  given  a  "  Relation "  in  his 
own  words.  The  immediate  cause  of  it  was  a  dangerous 
illness,  which  brought  him  near  to  death,  and  caused  him 
to  see  his  sins  with  great  vividness,  and  feel  them  with 
intense  grief.  On  his  recovery,  he  resolved  to  put  away 
every  sin,  and  seek  his  peace  with  God  by  prayer  and  fast- 
ing and  an  entire  dedication  of  himself  to  holiness.  To 
this  "  Relation  "  he  attached  the  greatest  sacredness ;  and, 
seventy  years  after  it  was  WTitten,  caused  his  grandsons 
to  transcribe  it,  and  made  the  remembrance  and  perusal  of 


*  The  brief  notice  of  this  lady,  in  the  "  Life  and  Death  of  Richard 
Mather,"  confirms  our  idea  of  her  worth :  "  That  which  of  outward  afflic- 
tions did  most  aggrieve  him  was  the  death  of  his  dear  wife,  who  had  been 
for  so  many  years  the  greatest  outward  comfort  and  blessing  which  he  did 
enjoy  ;  which  affliction  was  the  more  grievous,  in  that  she,  being  a  woman  of 
singular  prudence  for  the  management  of  affairs,  had  taken  off  from  her 
husband  all  secular  cares,  so  that  he  wholly  devoted  himself  to  his  study 
and  to  sacred  employments." 
3 


18  HISTORY     OF 

it  a  cordial  to  him  in  his  lingering  passage  through  the 
vaUey  of  the  shadow  of  death.  This  document  well  repre- 
sents the  religious  earnestness  of  the  early  New  England 
Christians.  It  shows  how  close  and  searching  was  the 
preaching,  how  high  the  standard  of  piety,  with  what 
minuteness  and  exactness  the  marks  of  a  true  conversion 
were  laid  down  and  scrutinized,  and  how  rigidly  the  tests 
of  it  were  applied.  After  describing  the  occasion  of  his 
"  first  saving  awakenings,"  and  the  powerful  convictions  of 
sin  which  oppressed  him,  he  pictures  in  strong  language 
the  struggles  and  pangs  of  the  new  birth,  the  process  of 
which  was  long  and  painful :  "  I  pleaded  hard  with  God* 
that  promise  which  says  that  he  will  take  away  the  heart 
of  stOne,  and  give  an  heart  of  flesh.  But  still  I  thought 
my  heart  was  as  hard  as  a  stone.  .  .  .  Sometimes  I  was 
afraid  I  was  guilty  of  the  unpardonable  sin.  Then,  that  my 
sins  were  too  great  to  be  pardoned.  Then,  of  God's  un- 
willingness to  pardon  me.  ...  I  was  foolishly  ashamed  to 
acquaint  anybody  with  my  troubles ;  till  at  last,  not  being 
able  to  hold  out  any  longer,  the  hand  of  God  pressing  me 
so  sore,  I  acquainted  my  father  with  some  of  my  distresses, 
and  begged  him  to  pray  for  me. 

"  I  resolved  upon  setting  apart  another  day,  to  be  spent 
in  secret  prayer  with  fasting  before  the  Lord  ;  and  the  Lord 
made  it  an  happy  day  to  me,  —  a  day  I  shall  never  forget 
while  I  have  any  being.  On  the  day  of  our  Anniversary 
Election,  the  greatest  anniversary  solemnity  in  the  coun- 
try, the  scholars  which  boarded  at  Mr.  Norton's  being  all 
abroad  on  their  diversions,  I  took  this  opportunity  of  a  pri- 
vate chamber,  and,  shutting  the  door,  spent  the  whole  day 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  19 

in  pouring  out  my  complaints  unto  the  Lord.  Towards 
the  close  of  the  day,  being  full  of  extremity  of  anguish  in 
my  soul  because  of  my  sin,  it  was  put  into  my  heart,  that 
I  must  go  and  throw  myself  down  at  the  feet  of  my 
Saviour,  and  see  whether  he  would  accept  me  or  no ;  — 
resolving  that  if  he  would  accept  me,  then  I  would  be  his ; 
but  if  not,  then  I  would  perish  at  his  feet.  So  I  came 
before  him  with  those  words  of  Esther,  '"If  I  perish,  I 
perish."  Yet,  Lord!  if  it  must  be  so,  I  am  resolved  to 
perish  at  the  feet  of  thy  mercy.  I  am  indeed  unworthy  of 
so  much  as  a  crumb ;  I  have  been  a  great  sinner ;  yet  I 
am  resolved  I  will  not  offend  any  more,  but  be  thine,  and 
be  thine  only,  and  be  thine  for  ever.'  And  while  I  was 
thus  praying  and  pleading,  these  words  of  Christ  were 
darted  into  my  mind,  '  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in 
no  wise  cast  out.'  After  that,  I  had  some  comfortable  per- 
suasion that  my  sins  were  pardoned. 

"  But,  by  and  by,  Mr.  Norton  showed  that  a  man  might 
forsake  his  sins,  and  have  been  in  some  sorrow  of  heart  for 
them,  and  yet  not  be  truly  converted  unto  God.  This  word 
stuck  deep  in  me ;  and  I  was  afraid  my  conversion  might 
not  be  sound." 

Then  his  father,  preaching  on  true  conversion,  made 
the  rule  cover  his  case,  and  answered  his  scruples ;  and, 
when  Mr.  Mitchell  preached  on  the  "  Marks  of  Sincerity," 
he  found  that  his  heart  "went  along  with  the  word." 
"  So,"  he  concludes,  "  I  went  on  cheerfully  in  the  ways  of 
God;  and,  if  in  any  thing  I  have  been  overtaken  with  a 
fault,  the  Lord  has  given  me  to  see  it,  and  mourn  for  it, 
and  turn  from  it." 


20  HISTORY     OF 

Having  graduated  in  1656,  he  commenced  preaching 
the  next  year,  when  not  yet  nineteen  years  old.  But,  being 
deskous  of  going  abroad,  and  having  tw^o  of  his  brothers* 
at  this  time  settled  ministers  in  Europe,  he  sailed  from 
Boston  for  England  in  July,  1657.  After  spending  a  year 
at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  where  he  took  his  second 
degree  in  1658,  and  after  preaching  with  much  effect  to 
several  congregations,  he  was  at  length,  like  his  father, 
compelled  to  conform,  or  leave  the  island.  Refusing  very 
liberal  offers  made  to  him,  if  he  would  but  wear  the  sur- 
plice and  read  the  Common  Prayer,  he  again  turned  his 
face  towards  New  England,  to  seek  a  harder  but  freer 
field  of  service  in  his  native  land.  On  a  Saturday  evening 
in  September,  1661,  to  the  surprise  of  all  at  home,  he 
reached  his  father's  house  in  Dorchester,  while  the  old  man 
was,  even  then,  greeting  another  son,f  who  had  just  arrived 
from  his  place  of  ministry  in  North  Hampton.  The  next 
day,  both  appeared  in  their  father's  pulpit,  on  either  side  of 
him ;  "  and  the  comforted  old  patriarch  sat  shining  between 
them,  like  the  sun  in  gemini,  hearing  them  entertain  the 
people  of  God  with  performances  that  made  all  people  pro- 
claim him  a  happy  father.''^  % 

During  the  first  winter  after  his  return,  he  preached  on 
alternate  Sundays  with  his  father  at  Dorchester,  and  to  the 
Second  Church.  Invitations  now  flocked  to  him.  No 
less  than  twelve  parishes  desired  his  services.  But  the  call 
of  this  church  ultimately  prevailed.  A  manuscript  in  his 
handwriting  gives  a  distinct  account  of  the  reasons  and 

*  Samuel  and  Nathaniel.         f  Eleazer.        %  Cotton  Mather. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  21 

conditions  of  its  acceptance  :  — "  Within  a  week  after  my 
arrival  in  Boston,  I  was  desired  to  preach  to  this  congrega- 
tion ;  which  accordingly  I  did,  Sept.  8,  1661,  when  I 
preached  my  first  sermon  in  Boston.  The  day  after,  the 
pastor  and  brethren  invited  me  to  labor  constantly  among 
them.  After  I  had  been  with  them  half  a  year,  they  desired 
I  would  accept  of  the  teaching  office ;  which  motion  I 
withstood  for  the  space  of  two  years  longer,  partly  out  of 
an  awful  sense  of  the  dreadfulness  of  the  bond  of  office- 
relations,  partly  out  of  a  desire,  which  was  in  my  heart,  to 
return  to  England,  had  the  Lord  seen  it  good.  But  then 
the  brethren  all  met  together,  and  spent  a  day  in  fasting 
and  prayer ;  the  main  ground  of  which  day  was  to  entreat 
the  Lord  to  bow  my  heart  to  accept  of  their  call ;  and,  after 
this  day  (a  passage  -which  I  think  worthy  to  be  recorded), 
my  heart  was  strangely  overcome  to  close  with  the  desires 
of  the  church  touching  office-relation.  The  officers  which 
were  then  here,  and  every  one  of  the  brethren,  did  under 
their  hands  signify  their  continued  desires  of  my  being  so 
related  to  them.  Also,  the  inhabitants  in  this  end  of  the 
town  did  the  like.  Whereupon,  I  did  return  an  affirmative 
answer  to  their  call ;  only  under  my  hand  I  expressed,  that, 
if  hereafter  the  Lord  should  call  me  to  greater  service  else- 
where, or  in  case  of  personal  persecutions  wherein  not  they 
but  I  shaU  be  aimed  at,  or  of  want  of  health,  or  if  I  should 
find  that  a  competent  maintenance  for  me  and  mine 
should  not  be  afforded,  then  (my  relation  to  them  notwith- 
standing) I  would  be  at  liberty  to  return  to  England,  or  to 
remove  elsewhere. 

"  These  proposals  were  consented  to   by  the  church ; 


22  HISTORY     OF 

whereupon  I  was  ordained  teacher  of  this  Second  Church 
in  Boston,  the  27th  day  of  the  3d  mo.,  1664 ;  my  father 
and  ]VIi-.  Mayo  imposing  hands  upon  me." 

From  the  period  of  Mather's  ordination  till  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Mayo,  some  eight  or  ten  years,  the  two  officiated  by 
turns ;  one  as  pastor,  and  the  other  as  teacher.  These  two 
offices,  though  distinct  in  name,  were  hardly  different  in 
duties.*  The  work  of  the  ministry  was  esteemed  in  those 
days  more  arduous  and  solemn  than  it  generally  is  in  our 
own ;  and,  even  though  the  congregation  was  not  large, 
two  incumbents  were  frequently  employed  in  it  to  divide 
and  relieve  the  labor.  So  long  as  Mr.  Mayo  retained  his 
office  of  pastor,  Mr.  Mather  seems  to  have  left  to  him 
the  charge  of  all  but  the  pulpit-duties.  But  no  sooner  is 
he  left  alone  than  we  begin  to  see  a  remarkable  change 
in  both  the  internal  and  external  affairs  of  the  church.  He 
takes  hold  of  the  work  with  all  his  characteristic  conscien- 
tiousness and  strength.  And,  under  God,  this  high  pur- 
pose of  his,  carried  into  effect  wdth  powerful  ability,  became 
the  lever  that  lifted  this  church  to  its  subsequent  distinction 
and  prosperity.  The  expression  of  this  purpose  is  his  first 
entry  on  our  records.  "  It  must  needs  be  acknowledged," 
he  says,  "  that  there  hath  been  a  great  defect  as  to  the 


*  In  the  "  Platform  of  Church  Discipline,"  1648,  the  distinction  be- 
tween the  offices  of  pastor  and  teacher  is  thus  stated :  —  "  The  office  of  pastor 
and  teacher  appears  to  be  distinct.  The  2Mstofs  special  work  is  to  attend  to 
exhortation,  and  therein  administer  a  word  of  wisdom.  The  teacher  is  to 
attend  to  doctrine,  and  therein  to  administer  a  word  of  knoicledge.  Either  of 
them  to  administer  the  seals,  as  also  to  execute  the  censures ;  being  but  a 
kind  of  application  of  the  word,  the  preaching  of  which,  together  with  the 
application  thereof,  they  are  alike  charged  withal." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  23 

administration  of  government  of  this  church.  The  neglect 
whereof  for  so  long  a  time  hath  caused  things  to  be  so  far 
out  of  order,  that  I  find  it  difficult,  yea,  impossible,  to 
reduce  matters  to  that  state  which  is  desirable.  Neverthe- 
less, Providence  having  so  ordered  that  the  sole  inspection 
of  the  affau's  of  the  Lord's  house  here  is  committed  into  my 
weak  hands,  I  account  it  my  duty  to  do  the  best  I  can  that 
things  may  be  set  and  kept  in  that  due  order  which  will  be 
for  the  present  benefit  of  the  church,  and  future  comfort 
of  him,  or  those  —  if  any  such  there  be,  as  I  trust  there 
may  —  whom  the  Lord  hath  appointed  to  succeed  me." 

From  henceforth  the  church  continued  to  grow  and  pro- 
|*sper,  notwithstanding  the  burning  of  their  house,  Nov.  27, 
1676,  during  an  extensive  fia;e,  which  consumed  forty-five 
dwelling-houses  and  several  warehouses.  Of  the  coming 
of  this  calamity  he  is  said  to  have  had  a  powerful  presenti- 
ment, leading  him  on  the  two  previous  sabbaths  to  warn 
his  people  from  the  pulpit,  and  in  his  study  to  cry  earnestly 
to  God,  and  even  to  urge  his  family  to  change  their  dwell- 
ing, which  was  afterwards  burned.*     Many  such  prophetic 

*  "In  the  year  1676,  he  had  a  strange  impression  on  his  mind,  that 
caused  him,  on  Nov.  19,  to  preach  a  sermon  on  these  words,  Zeph.  iii.  7  :  '  I 
said.  Surely  thou  wilt  fear  me,  thou  wilt  receive  instruction ;  so  their 
dwelling  should  not  be  cut  off.'  This  sermon  he  concluded  with  predicting 
that  a  fire  was  coming  which  would  make  a  deplorable  desolation.  After 
he  came  home,  he  walked  his  study,  exceedingly  moved  and  melted,  in  such 
a  soliloquy,  —  *  O  Lord  God  !  I  have  told  this  people  that  thou  art  about  to 
cut  off  their  dwelUngs  ;  but  they  will  not  believe.  Nevertheless,  O  Lord  !  I 
beseech  thee  to  spare  them.  K  it  may  stand  with  thy  holy  pleasure,  spare 
them  !  spare  them ! '  At  the  same  time,  he  earnestly  urged  upon  his  con- 
sort a  speedy  change  of  habitation.  On  the  next  Lord's  day,  he  preached 
what  seemed  afterwards  a  farewell  sermon  on  these  words,  '  Remember  how 
thou  hast  received  and  heard.'     The  conclusion  was,  that  predictions  of 


24  HISTORY     OF 

impressions  are  attributed  to  him,  in  which  he  seems  to 
have  put  confidence.  Concerning  these  I  have  no  remark 
to  make  in  any  cavilling  spirit.  That  no  premonitions  are 
ever  given  from  the  spirit  of  God  to  the  spirit  of  man,  I 
should  be  unwilling  to  take  it  upon  myself  to  assert.  But 
the  proof  of  the  divine  origin  of  the  impression,  in  any  parti- 
cular case,  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  find.  It  is  not  to  be 
found  in  the  strength  of  the  impression ;  because  the  strong- 
est have  not  been  always  verified.  It  is  not  to  be  found 
in  the  fulfilment ;  because  many  that  have  seemed  equally 
powerful  have  resulted  in  disappointment.  The  remarks 
of  Cotton  Mather  himself  upon  such  prophetic  impressions 
show  a  discrimination  and  sober  judgment,  such  as  many% 
would  hardly  believe  him  capable  of  applying  to  such  a 
theme :  —  "  There  might  be  danger  lest  some  inconsiderate 
Christians,  when  they  read  of  these  things,  might  be  led 
into  an  indiscreet  affectation  of  extrao7' dinar ies  and  singu- 
larities in  the  course  of  then-  devotions.     This  is  a  thing 

evil  ought  to  be  remembered ;  and  that,  when  the  Lord  Jesus  is  about  to 
bring  any  heavy  judgment  upon  his  people,  he  is  wont  to  stir  up  the  heart  of 
some  servant  of  his  to  give  warning  of  it ;  which  warning  should  be  remem- 
bered. The  last  words  of  this  sermon  were :  '  People  won't  remember  nor 
mind  these  things.  But  as  Jehu  said  unto  his  captain,  "Remember  how 
the  Lord  laid  this  burden ; "  so,  when  the  evil  is  come,  you  will  remember 
what  you  heard  concerning  it.'  The  very  night  following,  a  desolating  fire 
broke  out  in  his  neighborhood.  The  house  in  which  he  and  his  flock  had 
praised  God  was  « burnt  with  fire.'  Whole  streets  were  laid  in  ashes.  His 
own  house  took  a  part  in  the  ruins.  But,  by  the  gracious  providence  of 
God,  he  lost  little  of  his  beloved  library,  —  not  a  hundred  books  from 
above  a  thousand ;  of  those  also  he  had  an  immediate  recruit,  by  a  gener- 
ous offer  which  the  Honorable  Mrs.  Bridget  Hoar  made  him,  to  take  what 
he  pleased  from  the  Kbrary  of  her  deceased  husband.  In  less  than  two 
years,  also,  he  became  owner  of  a  better  house."  —  Cotton  Mather's  Remarka- 
hles. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  25 

that  might  have  perilous  consequences.  If  I  may  be 
thought  worthy  to  offer  my  advice,  I  would  humbly  say: 
Christians,  reproach  not  a  particular  faith,  as  if  there  never 
were  a  gracious  work  of  Heaven  in  it.  But  yet  be  cau- 
tioned against  laying  too  much  stress  upon  it,  lest  you  find 
yourselves  incautiously  plunged  into  a  hope  that  will  make 
ashamed.  A  particular  faith  may  be  a  ivork  of  God;  but 
the  counterfeits  of  this  jeivel  are  so  very  fine  that  it  will 
require  a  judgment  almost  7nore  than  human  to  discern  them. 
It  is  best  not  to  be  too  fond  of  enthusiasms.  It  is  best 
that  you  should  be  content  with  the  ordinary  satisfaction  of 
praying,  and  so  waiting  for  the  blessings  of  God  in  such 
'  pious  resignations  to  his  will,  and  annihilations  of  your 
own,  as  an  uncertainty  about  issues  would  most  properly 
lead  you  to." 

The  fact  seems  to  be,  that  Increase  Mather,  like  many 
religious  men  of  his  times,  was  accustomed  to  watch  nar- 
rowly the  processes  of  thought  and  emotion  in  his  own 
breast.  And  this  habit  of  introspection,  combined  with  a 
temperament  somewhat  gloomy,  and  made  more  so  by 
much  seclusion  and  study,  influenced,  moreover,  by  theolo- 
gical views  of  a  depressing  tendency  to  one  so  sensitively 
conscientious,  might  easily  lead  him  to  exaggerate  the  im- 
portance of  his  casual  impressions,  and  especially  to  think 
much  of  his  dark  forebodings.  We  find  him,  accordingly, 
often  uttering  warnings  to  his  people.  It  is  indeed,  I  think, 
one  of  the  faults  of  his  sermons,  that  they  take  too  dark  views 
of  Providence,  and  address  too  frequently  the  fears  of  men. 
They  may  not  be  more  denunciatory  than  the  sins  of  men 
deserve ;  but  they  are  much  more  so  than  is  consistent 
4 


26  HISTORY     OF 

with  the  highest  effect  of  the  denunciations  themselves. 
Men  become  inured  to  threats  and  woes  through  their  repe- 
tition. And  he  who  is  ever  painting  from  the  pulpit  the 
sins  and  dangers  of  the  people  has  no  reason  to  wonder,  if 
his  hearers  at  lenafth  become  so  accustomed  to  his  dark 
and  terrific  pictures  that  they  fail  to  excite  their  apprehen- 
sions, as  well  as  to  stimulate  their  virtues. 

I  would  not,  however,  have  it  to  be  inferred  from  these 
remarks,  that  Mr.  Mather  was  so  habituated  to  this  style 
of  preaching  as  to  interfere  greatly  with  his  popularity  or 
his  success,  or  that  strains  of  a  more  encouraging  and  hope- 
ful and  affectionate  tone  never  relieved  his  sermons.  On 
the  contrary,  they  come  in  from  time  to  time,  sweetly  and 
powerfully,  to  vary  and  enliven  his  grave  admonitions  and 
solemn  warnings.  Though  no  man  was  bolder  or  sterner 
to  rebuke  what  he  believed  to  be  wrong  in  individuals  or 
the  nation,  yet  he  had  essentially  a  kind  heart,  and  his  lips 
were  not  strangers  to  the  gentle  breathings  of  a  pastor's 
affection,  and  the  softer  accents  of  a  good  man's  sympathy. 

His  appearance  in  the  pulpit  is  described  as  having 
been  peculiarly  apostolical.  His  voice  was  strong  and 
commanding ;  and  he  sometimes  used  it  with  great  effect, 
delivering  sentences  which  he  wished  to  make  peculiarly 
impressive  "  with  such  a  tonitruous  cogency,"  says  his  son, 
"  that  the  hearers  were  struck  with  awe  like  that  produced 
by  the  faU  of  thunderbolts."  He  was  universally  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  preachers  of  his  day,  and  by  many  as 
at  the  head  of  his  profession.  He  spoke  generally  with  a 
grave  and  wise  deliberation.  It  was  his  endeavor  to  be 
always  understood ;  and,  though  he  made  pulpit-oratory  a 


TUB     SECOND     CHURCH.  27 

study,  yet  he  sought  to  conceal  every  other  rhetorical  art, 
that  he  might  practise  that  one  art  of  being  intelligible. 
With  Luther,  he  counted  him  the  best  preacher  "  who 
taught  with  the  highest  simplicity ; "  and  he  often  used  the 
saying,  "  A  simple  diet  is  the  most  wholesome  diet."  It 
was  his  custom  to  "  back  every  thing  he  said  with  some 
strong  or  agreeable  sentence  from  the  Scriptures;  judging 
that,  as  the  word  of  God  is  the  food  of  souls,  the  more  of 
it  there  is  pertinently  produced,  the  better  fed  is  the  flock ; 
and,  moreover,  that  there  is  in  the  word  of  God  that '  voice 
of  the  Lord  that  is  powerful  and  full  of  majesty,'  and  in 
the  language  also  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  an  unequalled 
beauty."  * 

Though  every  sermon  was  written  with  great  care,  as 
if  it  were  to  be  printed,  it  was  his  invariable  custom  to 
preach  without  reference  to  his  notes,  in  order  that  his 
manner  might  be  more  free  and  earnest.  In  committing 
his  sermons  to  memory,  however,  he  would  write  off,  on  a 
detached  sheet,  the  texts  he  wished  to  quote,  and  place  it 
in  the  beginning  of  his  Bible,  to  be  referred  to  in  case  he 
should  be  at  a  loss.  He  had  never  occasion,  however,  to 
have  recourse  to  this  paper,  save  once,  in  his  old  age ;  and 
then  he  was  so  impressed  by  the  strange  circumstance,  that 
he  immediately  wrote  a  remark  concerning  it,  as  a  symp- 
tom of  decay,  which  told  him  that  his  departure  Was  at 
hand. 

His  discourses  were  eminently  practical  arid  direct, 
abounding   in    historical    illustrations,   sometimes   quaint, 

*  "  Life  of  Increase  Mather,"  by  his  Son. 


28  HISTORY     OF 

sometimes   highly  eloquent.      They  show  much  learning 
and   thought;   but,  more  than  all,  a  sincere   and   ardent 
piety.      One  might  be  tempted  occasionally  to  smile  at 
marks  of  credulity,  and  instances  of  what  to  our  modern 
taste  seems  grotesque  in  a  sermon ;  but  a  feeling  deeper 
than  that  smile  expresses  would  be  the  total  effect  of  a 
careful  and  candid  perusal  of  any  one  of  his  discourses,  — 
a  feeling  of  respect  for  the  profound  sincerity  that  pervades 
it,  and  the  godly  fear  under  which  it  was  evidently  written. 
A  recent  perusal  of  several  of  his  sermons,  together  with 
those  of  other  eminent  men  of  his  era,  has  deeply  impressed 
me  with  respect  for  the  learning  and  intellectual  ability,  as 
well  as  the  piety,  of  the  early  preachers  of  New  England. 
I  am  persuaded,  that,  in  these  respects,  justice  is  not  done 
to  them  in  our  day.     We  are  apt  to  suppose  that  modern 
preaching  has  greatly  improved,  especially  so  far  as  regards 
talent,  thought,  and  learning.     But  it  is  not  so.     There  is 
more  refinement  perhaps,  but  not  more  originality.     There 
is  more  polish,  but  not  more  power  of  thought.     There  is 
a  better  display  of  materials,  but  not  so  much  solid  stuff. 
The  periods  may  be  better  rounded ;  but  they  are  not  so 
full.     There  is  a  vast  deal  of  work  in  the  best  of  those  old 
sermons.     The  thoughts  in  them  have  long  roots,  and  the 
pictures  a  deep  historical  background.     The  ornaments  are 
often  the  richest  antiques.     The  best  lore  of  ages  has  been 
made  tributary  to  their  pithy  sentences.     We  have  few 
divines,  even  in  this  age  of  intelligence,  who  study  and 
labor  for  their  sermons   as  they  did,  or  who  have  such  a 
serious  idea  of  the  duty  of  their  preparation. 

Increase  Mather's  method  of  employing  time  has  come 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  29 

down  to  us ;  and  it  may  well  excite  the  wonder  of  those 
who  throw  off  sermons  in  a  night.  Every  day  in  the  week, 
except  Sunday,  and  three  days  both  forenoon  and  after- 
noon, he  spent  in  studi/ing  his  sermons.  On  Friday,  they 
were  to  be  finished ;  and  Saturday  was  devoted  to  commit- 
ting them  to  memory.*  Such  was  his  fidelity  to  the  pulpit. 
He  would  bring  only  beaten  oil  into  the  sanctuary.  He 
would  offer  to  the  Lord  only  his  choicest  and  best  for  sac- 
rifice. 

The  smallness  of  his  salary  and  the  largeness  of  his 
family  caused  him,  for  many  years,  to  suffer  from  poverty 
and  debt.  His  services  also  to  the  colony  were  sometimes 
expensive.     Yet,  with  this  grievous  burden  upon  him,  he 

*  The  method  of  study  alluded  to  was  prefaced  with  prayer  :  —  "  Dear 
Lord  Jesus  !  thou  that  knowest  my  works !  help !  help  !  help  a  poor  crea- 
ture, I  earnestly  beseech  thee,  so  to  improve  his  time  as  shall  be  most  for 
thy  glory,  the  good  of  thy  people,  and  the  rejoicing  of  his  own  soul,  in  that 
day  when  I  shall  see  thee,  my  Lord,  and  speak  with  thee  face  to  face ! 
Amen !  Amen  !  Amen  ! 

"My  purpose,  by  thy  help,  O  Lord!  is  to  spend  my  time  every  day  as 
foUoweth :  — 

"  First  day  of  the  week.  Besides  my  public  labors,  attend  catechizing 
and  personal  instruction  in  my  family. 

"  2d.  Forenoon,  read  comments  ;  study  sermon.  Afternoon,  read 
authors ;  study  sermon. 

"  3d.  Forenoon,  read  comments ;  study  sermon.  Afternoon,  endeavor 
to  instruct  personally  some  or  other ;  read  authors. 

'♦  4:th.  Forenoon,  read  comments  ;  study  sermon.  Afternoon,  read 
authors ;  sermon. 

"  5th.  Forenoon,  read  comments ;  study  sermon.  After  lecture,t  en- 
deavor to  promote  among  the  ministers  what  shall  be  of  public  advantage. 

*'  6th.  Forenoon,  read  comments ;  study  sermon.  Afternoon,  read 
authors ;  sermon. 

"  7th.  Read  comments.  Prepare  for  Sabbath,  committing  sermons  to 
memory." 

t  The  Thursday  Lecture,  still  in  existence. 


30  HISTORY     OF 

never  complained  of  his  people,  nor  could  make  up  his 
mind  to  leave  them  for  more  lucrative  places  that  opened 
to  him.  He  bore  all  in  silence ;  and,  though  with  a  heavy 
heart,  stUl  devoted  himself  to  his  holy  work  with  unabated 
resolution.  In  his  study,  and  to  the  Great  Provider  alone, 
he  pom-ed  out  his  distresses.  Again  and  again  we  find  in 
his  diary  such  sentiments  as  these :  "  Grieved,  and  almost 
distracted,  with  thoughts  of  my  debts.  I  could  be  content 
to  be  poor,  I  care  not  how  poor,  so  as  I  may  be  in  a  capa- 
city to  serve  God  without  distraction.  But  to  be  in  debt, 
to  the  dishonor  of  the  gospel,  is  a  wounding,  killing 
thought  to  me ;  so  grievous,  that,  if  it  be  not  remedied,  in 
a  little  time  it  will  bring  me  with  sorrow  to  my  grave. 
Lord,  if  thou  wilt  provide  for  me,  I  will  love  thee,  and 
thank  thee,  and  serve  thee.  And  if  thou  wilt  not  provide 
for  me,  I  will  yet  love  thee,  and  bless  thee,  and  serve  thee. 
If  thou  wUt  cast  me  off,  I  will  not  cast  thee  off.  I  deserve 
thou  shouldst  cast  me  off.  But  thou.  Lord,  never  deservest 
ill  at  my  hands.     The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done ! " 

Yet  these  embarassments  never  made  him  selfish ;  nor 
did  the  scantiness  of  his  own  resources  prevent  him  the 
pleasure  of  ministering  to  others'  necessities.  A  tenth  part 
of  his  income  he  always  set  apart  to  pious  uses,  esteeming 
this  proportion  to  be  the  least  that  a  grateful  man  would 
be  satisfied  thus  to  consecrate,  and  supposing  that  the 
divine  will,  as  understood  and  complied  with  by  holy  men 
of  old,  required  no  less  at  the  hands  of  believers.  Indeed, 
in  his  prayers,  to  which  I  have  referred,  he  seems  to  have 
identified  the  wants  of  the  poor  with  his  own,  and  for  their 
sake,  as  much  as  for  himself,  to  have  asked  for  an  increased 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  31 

supply.  His  parishioners,  it  appears,  were  at  first  either 
not  so  considerate  of  his  poverty  as  they  ought  to  have 
been,  or  not  in  a  condition  to  relieve  it  as  they  might  have 
wished.  But  afterwards,  in  answer,  as  this  good  man 
believed,  to  his  prayers,  "  several  gentlemen  of  good  estate 
and  better  spirit"  came  forward  with  great  cheerfulness  to 
lighten  his  burden  and  gladden  his  heart  with  timely  and 
generous  gifts,  so  delicately  bestowed  as  not  to  disturb  his 
manly  feelings,  but  add  to  the  value  of  their  offerings.* 
From  this  time  forth,  they  never  suffered  him  to  want. 
His  son,  in  the  funeral  sermon  preached  a  few  days  after  his 
father's  death,  with  great  heartiness  testifies  to  the  genero- 
sity of  the  people.  "  In  a  very  public  manner,"  he  says, 
"  I  now  do,  and  in  a  more  public  manner.)  I  hope,  I  again 
shall  render  you  thanks.  The  expressions  of  your  love  to 
my  honored  father  were  notable.,  and  were  numberless,  and 
were  such  as  greatly  comforted  him.  What  you  expressed 
in  the  last  years  of  his  life,  and  especially  after  he  became 
an  emerited  soldier.,  and  singularly  at  his  departure,  is  what 
I  know  not  that  any  church  has  ever  equalled." 

Amongst  the  numerous  acts  of  benevolence  which 
adorned  the  life  of  Increase  Mather,  one  beautiful  instance 
of  his  energetic  charity  and  public  spirit  finds  a  striking 
connection  with  a  recent  noble  enterprise  of  national  muni- 
ficence.    In  the  desolating  and  bloody  Indian  war,  under 

*  "Among  whom  a  remembrance  is  particularly  due  to  Sir  Thomas 
Temple,  —  as  fine  a  gentleman  as  ever  set  foot  on  the  American  strand. 
Yea,  they  supported  his  family  when  he  who  once  could  scarce  tolerably 
clothe  himself  made  an  handsome  appearance  in  the  court  of  kings  for  four 
years  together,  and  was  able  to  do  much  for  the  support  of  the  needy,  and 
even  relieved  parsons  of  the  established  church."  —  Cotton  Mather. 


32  HISTORY     OF 

King  Philip,  in  1675,  in  which  so  many  towns  and  villages 
were  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  fields  could  not  be  culti- 
vated ;  when  the  ghastly  image  of  famine  threatened  to  fol- 
low in  the  track  of  the  horrid  fiend  of  carnage,  the  pastor  of 
this  church  procured  from  his  friends  in  Ireland  a  whole 
shipload  of  provisions,  together  with  money  and  clothing 
fi-om  London,  to  be  distributed  among  the  distressed  inha- 
bitants of  New  England.  Little  did  our  prosperous  citizens 
think,  when  they  were  storing  the  "  Jamestown  "  with,  their 
bounty,  that  they  were  but  repaying  a  debt  to  Ireland,  so 
long  ago  contracted  by  their  fathers.  The  bread  cast  upon 
the  waters,  and  forgot,  —  even  though  centuries  intervene, 
—  how  surely  does  it  return  again ! 

Educated  in  the  best  society,  and  having  seen  much  of 
the  world,  the  manners  of  Dr.  Mather  were  those  of  a 
Christian  gentleman,  dignified  and  com*tly;  but  with  a 
shade  of  puritanical  austerity.  Uniformly  serious,  he  could 
nevertheless,  on  proper  occasions,  indulge  in  a  becoming 
pleasantry  and  freedom.  The  earnestness  of  his  religious 
character,  however,  and  his  supreme  devotion  to  his  holy 
calling,  gave,  as  life  advanced,  a  stamp  of  sanctity  and 
gravity  to  his  deportment,  which  impressed  all  who  had 
intercom-se  with  him.  It  was  a  common  remark  of  his 
cotemporaries,  that  "  it  was  an  edifying  thing  only  to  see 
him  in  the  public  assemblies ;  for  his  very  countenance  was 
a  sermon."  It  might  well  be  so,  if  the  countenance  is  an 
index  of  the  heart;  for  his  diary,  in  his  earlier  life,  was 
constantly  marked  with  the  significant  memento,  "  Heart 
Serious."  It  was  evidently  one  of  his  most  sincere  and 
constant  purposes  to  fulfil  the  precept,  "  Keep  thy  heart 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  33 

with  all  diligence,"  —  to  keep  it  in  a  frame  habitually 
devotional,  and  in  an  abiding  sense  of  the  presence  and 
inspection  of  God. 

Few  men  have  spent  so  much  time  in  prayer,  or  had 
more  entire  faith  in  its  efficacy.  Whatever  some  may 
think  of  the  "  absurdity  of  his  notions  concerning  the  mani- 
fest answers  to  his  petitions,"  and  however  they  may  turn 
into  ridicule  the  "  heavenly  afHations  which  he  enjoyed  in 
his  devotional  flights,"  it  is  not  capable  of  denial  that  he 
made  proof,  as  faithfully  and  as  earnestly,  of  the  efficacy 
and  joy  of  prayer,  according  to  his  understanding  of  the 
duty,  as  any  other  godly  man  of  his  generation.  If  he  was 
sometimes  under  a  delusion  as  to  the  result  of  his  devo- 
tions, he  cannot  be  reproached  for  having  been  negligent 
as  to  the  duty.  Those  who  doubt  the  reality  of  the  re- 
sponses he  supposed  he  had  received  from  heaven  have  no 
room  to  doubt  the  ardor  and  importunity  and  perseverance 
with  which  he  asked  and  sought  and  knocked  at  its  holy 
gate.  His  diary  is  full  of  prayers;  his  days  were  full  of 
prayers  ;  whole  days  were  often  set  apart  for  his  devotions : 
his  study  was  the  scene  of  frequent  converse  with  God,  in 
all  the  various  conditions  of  a  devout  spirit,  from  the  lowest 
humiliation  with  groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered,  to  the 
highest  ecstasies  of  gratitude  and  joy  and  adoration. 

How  far  he  was  visionary  and  superstitious  in  these 
devout  acts ;  how  far  he  mistook  the  chimeras  of  a  heated 
brain  for  gracious  spiritual  operations  ;  how  far  the  light 
and  peace,  the  joy  and  assurance,  the  direction  and  fore- 
cast, which  he  derived  from  his  prayers,  were  really  from 
above,  or  how  far  they  were  "  the  creatures  of  his  own 
5 


34 


HISTORY     OF 


excited  imagination,"  or  "  the  delusive  fabrics  of  his  own 
vanity,"  —  let  those  determine  who  feel  disposed  to  subject 
his  religious  experiences  to  sharp  criticism,  or  whose  spiri- 
tuality qualifies  them  to  judge. 

One  thing  is  certain.  If  he  was  deceived  and  deluded, 
it  was  not  lightly ;  it  was  not  for  want  of  self-examination, 
or  of  careful  thought  and  sober  reasoning  as  to  the  validity 
of  his  persuasion.  He  cannot  be  confounded  with  the 
ignorantly  credulous  or  the  weak-minded.  He  was  a  wise 
and  thoughtful,  as  weU  as  earnest  man.  No  man's  sneer 
is  strong  enough  to  make  him  pass  for  a  credulous  fool,  in 
opposition  to  the  clear  testimony  both  of  his  writings  and 
his  acts.  His  private  papers  show  how  cautiously  he  scru- 
tinized both  his  own  heart  and  the  grounds  of  his  hopes 
and  impressions  as  to  the  success  of  his  prayers.  "  I  put 
the  answer  of  my  prayers,"  he  says,  "  upon  the  sincerity  of 
my  soul  before  God.  O  my  God!  if  I  do  not  sincerely 
desu-e  to  glorify  thy  name,  then  let  me  have  no  answer  of 
my  prayers.  But  if  I  do  in  sincerity  desire  to  serve  and 
glorify  thee,  then  have  compassion  on  me,  and  deny  me 
not,  I  pray  thee."  At  another  time,  he  writes  thus  :  "  My 
heart  was  moved  to  believe  that  God  would  accept  and 
answer  my  poor  prayers,  —  First,  because  I  drew  nigh  to 
him ;  therefore  he  will  draw  nigh  to  me.  Secondly,  be- 
cause the  things  which  I  asked,  and  the  ends  why  I  asked 
them,  were  for  the  glory  of  God,  not  for  my  own  sake. 
Thirdly,  for  the  honor  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ.  Fourthly, 
because  nothing  but  my  sins,  which  I  this  day  confess 
before  the  Lord,  can  hinder  the  answer  of  my  prayers ;  but 
these  cannot  hinder,  because  they  are  done  away  in  the 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  36 

blood  of  Christ,  who  has  loved  me,  and  given  himself  for 
me  (iv/iich  I  knoiv,  for  that  I  feel  my  heart  loveth  him). 
Fifthly,  because  there  never  was  any  creature  who  did 
humbly  seek  unto  the  Lord  for  such  blessings  as  this  day'  I 
prayed  for,  that  was  denied  by  him ;  and  surely  I  shall  not 
be  the  first  whom  God  will  deny.  Oh,  blessed  for  ever  be 
my  dear  God,  in  Jesus  Christ,  who  heareth  prayer ! " 

From  an  early  period  of  his  life,  Mr.  Mather  acted  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  ecclesiastical  and  religious  affairs 
of  New  England,  and  wielded  an  influence  unsurpassed  by 
any  individual  of  his  times. 

On  his  return  from  Europe,  at  the  very  commencement 
of  his  ministry,  he  found  the  churches  deeply  engaged  in 
a  controversy  respecting  the  church-state  of  their  posterity ;  a 
controversy  which,  by  reason  of  the  religious  basis  of  the 
country,  had  its  political  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  bear- 
ings. New  England  had  now  been  settled  some  thirty 
years ;  and  a  numerous  posterity  had  arisen,  many  of 
whom,  though  baptized  in  their  infancy,  and  though  per- 
sons of  good  character,  did  not  regard  themselves,  and 
were  not  regarded  by  the  churches,  as  suitable  for  admis- 
sion to  the  church,  because  they  could  not  "  come  up  to 
that  experimental  account  of  their  regeneration  "  which  the 
churches  required  for  access  to  the  Lord's  table.  Now, 
these  persons  could  not,  according  to  the  rule  of  the 
churches,  have  their  children  baptized ;  and  yet  it  seemed 
to  our  fathers  that  some  distinction  ought  to  be  made  in 
their  favor,  over  those  who  had  manifested  no  signs  of  a 
religious  disposition  or  promise  of  a  religious  character, 
and  those  who  were  positively  worldly  and  immoral.    If  the 


36  HISTORY     OF 

children  of  the  former  should  be  refused  baptism,  they 
might  grow  up  without  any  connection  with  the  church, 
and  be  in  danger  of  being  lost  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
And  yet,  if  the  church  should  receive  into  membership  per- 
sons who  were  not  really  regenerated,  it  was  feared  that 
the  door  would  be  opened  for  worldliness,  and  a  laxity  of 
religious  life,  fuU  of  peril  to  the  interests  of  Christ.  This 
difficulty,  which  was  first  brought  into  public  notice  in 
Connecticut,  excited  a  degree  of  interest  among  the  New 
England  churches,  which  can  hardly  be  conceived  of  at  the 
present  day,  and  resulted  in  a  controversy  which  was  agi- 
tated with  no  little  warmth.  The  ministers  discussed  the 
subject  in  Boston  in  1657,  and  came  to  a  decision  of 
the  questions  involved  in  it ;  and,  in  1662,  a  synod  of  the 
churches,  called  by  dnection  of  the  General  Court,  was 
held  in  the  same  place,  more  fully  to  consider  and  deter- 
mine the  matter.  The  result  was  a  series  of  propositions, 
embodying  the  principle  of  what  was  afterwards  called 
"  the  half-way  covenant"  According  to  this,  persons  of 
sober  life  not  experimentally  regenerated,  though  not 
allowed  to  join  the  church,  were  permitted  to  have  their 
children  baptized,  if  they  would  own  the  covenant  made 
by  their  parents  on  their  behalf  in  their  infancy.* 

This  result  of  the  synod  was  regarded  with  jealousy  by 
several    eminent    divines,   who   feared   that   "  the    sacred 


*  The  first  instance  of  any  one  being  received  into  the  Second  Church 
by  the  half-way  covenant  appears  to  have  been  Jan.  15,  1693.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  record :  ♦•  Received  into  covenant,  Mary  Sunderland ;  and  her  son 
John  baptized,  —  they  being  the  first  so  admitted  in  pursuance  of  the 
church's  addresses  unto  me  for  that  purpose  and  practice."  The  half-way 
covenant  has  not  been  used  in  this  church  since  April,  1786. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  37 

ordinance  of  baptism  should  come  to  be  applied  to  such 
unmeet  subjects  as  would  in  a  while  put  an  end  to  New 
England's  primitive  and  peculiar  glory  of  undefiled  admi- 
nistration." One  of  these  was  the  President  of  the  College, 
Charles  Chauncy,  who  published  a  treatise,  entitled  "  Anti- 
synodalia  Americana."  Increase  Mather  took  the  same 
ground,  and  also  published  his  dissent  and  the  reasons  of 
it.  But  afterwards,  having  been  convinced  that  he  was  in 
the  wrong,  partly  by  his  father,  who  wrote  on  the  opposite 
side,  partly  by  the  sound  arguments  of  the  "  matchless  Mr. 
Mitchell,"  and  partly  by  his  own  longer  experience  and 
reflections,  he  not  only  changed  his  opinion,  but  published 
two  able  treatises  in  defence  of  the  synodical  propositions. 

This  change  and  recantation  have  been  regarded  by 
some  as  indicative  of  weakness  and  inconsistency,  and 
even  as  having  originated  in  a  desire  to  court  popularity, 
by  falling  in  with  the  general  current,  which  he  found  to 
be  setting  against  his  earlier  views.  But  I  see  no  reason 
for  attributing  to  him  either  inconsistency  or  policy.  It  is 
a  mark  of  manliness  and  love  of  truth  to  give  up  opinions, 
however  once  firmly  and  conscientiously  held,  when  one 
has  become  convinced  of  their  unsoundness ;  and  an  open 
avowal  of  such  a  change,  with  the  reasons  that  have  led  to 
it,  seems  to  be,  on  the  part  of  a  public  man  and  a  minister 
whose  previous  views  have  gone  abroad  through  the  press, 
hardly  less  an  obligation  than  an  honor.  He  may  lay  him- 
self open  thereby  to  the  cavils  of  the  censorious  and  the 
inimical ;  but  the  purer  feeling  of  candid  men  will  appre- 
ciate his  painful  sacrifice  of  pride  to  truth,  and  shrink  from 
attributing  to  selfish  and  sinister  motives  what  the  avowed 


38  HISTORY     OF 

reasons  are  adequate  to  justify,  and  a  more  enlightened 
understanding  would  be  sufficient  to  account  for.  The 
saying  of  Dr.  Owen,  as  quoted  by  Cotton  Mather,  is  not 
inapplicable  to  the  case  in  hand :  "  He  that  can  glory  that 
in  fourteen  years  he  hath  not  altered  nor  improved  his 
conceptions  of  some  important  things,  shall  not  have  me 
for  his  rival." 

Through  the  influence  of  Increase  Mather  more  than  of 
any  others,  the  General  Court  were  induced,  in  1679,  to 
convoke  a  general  synod  of  all  the  churches,  called  after- 
wards the  "  Reforming  Synod,"  to  consider  and  report  upon 
the  following  questions  :  "  1.  What  are  the  evils  that  have 
provoked  the  Lord  to  bring  his  judgments  upon  New  Eng- 
land ?  2.  What  is  to  be  done  that  so  these  evils  may  be 
reformed  ?  "  The  "  judgments  "  particularly  refeiTcd  to  were 
King  Philip's  war ;  the  smallpox,  which  had  recently  made 
fearful  ravages,  and  filled  the  people  with  consternation;  the 
great  fire  of  1676,  and  the  still  greater  of  Aug.  8,  1679,  — 
calamities  which  had  almost  simultaneously  afflicted  the 
colony.  These  sore  distresses  were  looked  upon  by  our 
fathers  as  awful  visitations  of  Divine  Providence,  on 
account  of  the  transgressions  of  the  people.  The  godly 
spirits  of  the  pastors  were  grieved  at  the  decay  of  that 
piety  which  had  been  so  illustrious  in  the  pUgrims.  They 
saw  with  alarm  the  general  falling  away  from  the  strict 
notions  and  habits  of  the  first  settlers ;  "  they  bewailed,  in 
most  pathetic  strains,"  the  degeneracy  of  the  age.  And, 
as  they  felt  that  the  punishment  of  Heaven  was  justly 
merited,  so  they  supposed  that  at  length,  in  these  grievous 
afflictions,  the  recompense  had  begun. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  39 

Having  first  kept  a  general  fast,  the  synod  met  at  Bos- 
ton, Sept.  10,  1679.  Mr.  Mather  preached  during  its  ses- 
sion, was  the  principal  mover  in  all  its  deliberations  and 
doings,  and  drew  up  the  result,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted.  On  its  presentation  by  a  committee  of  ministers 
to  the  General  Court,  Mr.  Mather  preached  again  ;  after 
which,  that  body  accepted  the  result,  and  commended  it  to 
"  the  serious  consideration  of  all  the  churches  and  people 
in  the  jurisdiction." 

The  catalogue  of  sins  specified  in  this  document  would 
strike  with  surprise  many  modern  readers,  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  believe  that  the  men  of  that  age  were  generally 
remarkable  for  sober  habits  and  piety.  It  is  not  improba- 
ble that  the  picture  was  too  darkly  colored  by  the  stern 
and  somewhat  gloomy  prophets  who  drew  it.  Yet,  evident- 
ly, there  was  substantial  reason  in  the  moral  condition  of 
the  people  for  the  concern  and  reproof  of  a  faithful  mini- 
stry, and  for  earnest  endeavors  after  reform.  The  principal 
measm-es  proposed  by  the  synod  to  this  end  were,  —  that 
the  work  of  reformation  should  begin  with  the  magistrates ; 
that  the  churches  should  be  more  strict  and  faithful  in  their 
discipline ;  that  earnest  efforts  should  be  made  to  provide 
a  devoted  ministry ;  that  wholesome  laws  should  be  esta- 
blished and  executed,  and  schools  of  learning  encouraged. 

This  celebrated  Reforming  Synod  held  a  second  session 
the  next  year,  when  Increase  Mather  was  appointed  Mode- 
rator ;  and  the  "  New  England  Confession  of  Faith  "  was 
adopted,  which,  in  the  doctrinal  parts,  mainly  agrees  with 
the  "  Westminster  Confession."  The  sickness  of  the  Mode- 
rator —  the  beginning,  as  it  proved,  of  a  dangerous  fever  — 


40  HISTORY     OF 

did  not  prevent  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  but  was  forgot- 
ten for  a  time  in  the  intensity  of  his  interest  in  the  business 
to  be  done,  which  was  despatched  with  unexampled  rapid- 
ity through  his  promptness  and  close  application. 

In  the  controversy  concerning  the  "  qualifications  for 
admission  to  the  church,^^  Dr.  Mather  felt  a  deep  inter- 
est, and  took  an  active  part.  The  attempt  to  alter  the 
old  order  of  the  New  England  churches,  towards  the  close 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  by  dispensing  with  "  a  rela- 
tion of  religious  experience,"  on  the  part  of  candidates  for 
church-membership,  was  contrary  to  his  fixed  opinions  and 
earnest  convictions.  He  wrote  against  it,  and  opposed  it 
with  all  his  might,  as  a  dangerous  innovation.  He  insisted 
that  "  doctrinal  knowledge  and  outward  blamelessness  are 
not  sufficient  qualifications  for  admission  to  the  church ; 
but  that  practical  confessio7is,  or  some  relation  of  the  work 
of  conversion,  are  necessary.  Churches  are  bound  to 
inquire  into  the  spiritual  estate  of  those  whom  they  receive 
to  full  communion."  One  of  those  with  whom  he  en- 
gaged in  controversy  on  this  subject  was  Rev.  Mi'.  Stod- 
dard, of  Northampton.  It  is  somewhat  singular,  that 
the  great  champion  of  orthodoxy,  President  Edwards,  — 
who,  many  years  after,  resisted  the  views  of  Stoddard, 
taking  the  same  ground  with  Increase  Mather,  and  sup- 
porting it  as  earnestly  ;  and  through  whose  influence 
mainly  the  orthodox  congregational  churches  of  New  Eng- 
land retained  the  ancient  practice  alluded  to  above,  —  was 
both  the  successor  and  grandson  of  Stoddard.  And  it  is  a 
fact  worthy  of  notice,  that  "  those  churches  which  adopted 
the  views  of   Edwards,  together  with   those   which   have 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  41 

since  sprung  out  of  them,  constitute  in  general  the  ortho- 
dox churches  of  the  present  day  ;  while  those  which 
persisted  in  the  views  of  Stoddard  became,  with  few 
exceptions,  first  Arminian,  and  then  Unitarian."  * 

Another  controversy,  closely  allied  to  that  just  noticed, 
was  agitated  at  about  the  same  period ;  in  which  Mr. 
Mather  was  no  less  interested.  It  related  to  the  choice  of 
ministers ;  the  question  being,  whether  the  church  should 
choose  independently  of  the  congregation,  and  have  prece- 
dence in  the  matter,  or  vote  only  in  connection  with  the  lat- 
ter. Mr.  Mather,  with  his  strong  attachment  to  the  old 
order,  advocated  the  claim  of  the  church ;  f  it  being,  as  he 

*  Professor  Pond ;  whose  biographical  sketch  of  Increase  Mather  is 
■written  with  ability,  though  evidently  with  a  strong  sectarian  bias.  His 
views  of  the  character  of  Mather  appear  to  me  to  be  in  general  just,  and  to 
be  sustained  by  competent  authorities,  though  to  these  Mr.  Pond  has  very 
rarely  referred.  He  has  failed,  probably  through  inadvertence,  to  make  due 
acknowledgment  of  his  obligations  to  Cotton  Mather's  "  Remarkables," 
considering  that  he  has  not  only  relied  upon  that  old  book  for  facts,  but  has 
constantly  incorporated  sentences  and  paragraphs  from  it  into  his  work,  with 
no  change,  or  but  a  trifling  one,  in  the  language.  He  has  added,  however, 
valuable  historical  and  other  matter,  showing  research  and  general  infor- 
mation. 

t  It  is  not  to  be  questioned,  that,  amongst  the  earliest  churches  in  New 
England,  the  church  had  control  in  ecclesiastical  matters.  A  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, which  have  been  found  in  the  records  of  two  or  three  churches 
after  1672,  only  prove  the  rule.  The  principle  was  perhaps  sometimes  ques- 
tioned ;  but  the  primitive  usage  was  next  to  universal.  Indeed,  it  must 
have  been  so  from  the  very  constitution  of  the  state ;  since  before  1662  the 
civil  disabilities  affixed  to  non-church-membership  were  not  altogether  done 
away ;  and  if  none  but  church-members  had  a  right  to  vote  in  civil  matters, 
much  less  in  ecclesiastical. 

The  first  notice  in  the  church  at  Plymouth  of  church  and  town  joining 
in  giving  a  call  to  a  minister  is  on  occasion  of  Mr.  Little's  settlement,  1699. 
"  None,  it  seems,  in  that  day  pleaded  for  the  society's  right  of  supplying  the 
pulpit,  without  the  church's  leading  in  the  affair.     And  in  more  ancient 

6 


42  HISTORY     OF 

thought,  abundantly  sustained  both  by  usage,  and  by  a 
regard  to  the  best  interests  of  religion  itself;  since  pro- 
fessed and  approved  Christians  would  be  most  likely  to  be 
guided  in  their  choice  by  religious  considerations,  and  to 
consult  for  the  true  spiritual  welfare  of  the  flock.  Our 
records  show  that  in  August,  1697,  "  a  letter  of  admonition 
was  voted  by  the  Second  Church  to  the  church  in  Charles- 
town,  for  betraying  the  liberties  of  the  chm-ches,  in  their 
late  putting  into  the  hands  of  the  whole  inhabitants  the 
choice  of  a  minister."  No  better  proof  than  this  could  be 
given  of  the  extent  to  which  our  pastor  carried  his  zeal 
upon  this  subject. 

But  the  day  was  now  at  hand  when  his  opinions  upon 
these  important  questions  were  to  meet  with  more  stre- 
nuous opposition  from  high  places,  and  his  temper  and 
patience  to  be  put  to  the  severest  test.  A  number  of  highly 
influential  and  respectable  men  associated  for  the  purpose 
of  founding  a  new  church  in  Boston,  on  the  very  prin- 
ciples which  Mr.  Mather  so  warmly  opposed,  —  the  choice 
of  minister  without  the  distinct  action  of  the  church,  and 
admission  to  full  communion  without  a  relation  of  expe- 

days,  by  some  hints  in  the  church-records,  it  may  be  gathered  that  the 
church  managed  the  whole  affair  both  of  inviting  and  calling,  there  being 
no  mention  of  the  congregation."  See  valuable  Appendix  at  the  close  of 
"  A  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Chandler  Bobbins,  over  the  First 
Church  in  PljTnouth,  Jan.  30,  1760,"  by  his  father,  Rev.  Philemon  Robbins, 
Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Branford,  Conn. 

In  1672,  an  instance  of  the  same  kind  occurred  in  the  First  Church  in 
Salem;  also  at  Dedham,  in  1685.  We  discover  a  gradually  progressive 
liberality  of  sentiment  upon  this,  as  upon  other  matters,  in  the  churches 
generally  for  many  years;  but  I  have  seen  no  sufficient  proof,  that  the 
established  order  of  the  original  churches  was  not  as  Increase  Mather 
regarded  it. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  48 

riences.  Having  built  a  house  of  worship  in  Brattle 
Square,  and  called  Mr.  Benjamin  Colman,  then  in  England, 
to  be .  their  minister,  —  a  child  of  the  Second  Church, 
baptized  and  admitted  by  Increase  Mather,  and  early 
distinguished  for  shining  abilities  and  high  virtues,  —  they 
published  a  "  manifesto  or  declaration,"  just  before  the 
dedication  of  their  church,  setting  forth  the  purposes  and 
principles  of  their  undertaking.  This  public  statement 
was  rendered  necessary  by  the  very  general  opposition  that 
prevailed  among  the  churches  to  the  enterprise.  It  called 
forth  severe  animadversion  and  letters  of  admonition  from 
such  ministers  as  Higginson  and  Noyes,  of  Salem,  and 
Increase  Mather ;  and  led  to  a  long  controversy,  conducted 
on  both  sides  with  an  asperity  unworthy  of  Christians,  and 
for  which  sufficient  justification  cannot  be  found  in  the 
fashion  of  the  times,  or  the  ardent  zeal  of  the  disputants  for 
the  interests  which  they  esteemed  sacred.  But,  whatever 
impropriety  of  speech  and  infirmity  of  temper  may  have 
been  exhibited,  both  parties  are  alike  blameworthy.  So 
far  as  I  am  capable  of  judging,  there  is  little  to  choose 
between  them.  There  were  other  causes  of  animosity 
than  mere  differences  of  opinion  upon  the  ecclesiastical 
questions  at  issue.  This  will  be  evident  to  any  one  who 
has  patience  and  inclination  to  search  carefully  the  histo- 
rical documents  that  throw  light  upon  this  matter.  It  is 
not  my  intention,  however,  to  go  into  an  exposition  of  the 
various  motives  and  conflicting  interests  that  were  in- 
volved in  this  controversy,  and  gave  to  it  its  tone  of  per- 
sonality and  bitterness.  It  is  painful  to  be  compelled  to 
allude  to  them  at  all.     I  would  not  do  so,  but  for  the  sake 


44  HISTORY     OF 

of  even-handed  justice.  I  cannot  allow  the  imputation  of 
violence  and  disgraceful  rage  in  the  conduct  of  this  dispute 
to  rest  upon  Increase  Mather  alone,  or  pre-eminently; 
whilst  sufficient  evidence  lies  before  me,  that  others,  no  less 
amenable  to  censure  than  himself,  have  been  permitted  to 
escape  under  cover  of  the  opprobrium  cast  upon  him.  If 
vehemence  and  asperity  are  to  be  palliated  in  any  man  in 
consideration  of  a  consuming  zeal  for  what  he  conceives 
to  be  of  vital  moment  to  the  cause  of  religion,  few  persons 
could  present  a  stronger  claim  to  such  indulgence  than  Mr. 
Mather.  And  if,  moreover,  mere  opposition  of  opinion  or 
belief,  or  feelings  of  personal  antipathy,  give  the  historian 
no  right  to  shade  more  darkly  the  character  he  is  painting, 
the  friendly  pen  that  honors  those  whose  views  and  mea- 
sures were  at  variance  with  Increase  Mather's  should  for- 
bear to  draw  the  contrast  between  his  temper  and  motives 
and  theirs  so  broad  as  to  make  his  infirmities  a  foil  to  their 
merits  or  a  screen  to  their  faults. 

Mr.  Mather  was  offered  the  Presidency  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1681 ;  but  refused  the  office,  because  his  church 
would  not  consent  to  part  with  him.  He  had  always 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  that  institution, 
and  was  already  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  its 
alumni.  For  these  reasons,  as  well  as  on  account  of  his 
eminent  qualifications,  he  was  again  solicited  by  the  over- 
seers, in  1685,  to  take  the  superintendence,  and  act  as  Pre- 
sident yro  tempore.  From  this  period,  he  remained  at  the 
head  of  the  college  for  sixteen  years ;  though  presiding 
over  it  only  on  condition  that  he  should  retain  his  connec- 
tion with  his  church  and  reside  in  Boston.     He  served  the 


TUE     SECOND     CHURCH.  45 

college  well.  The  records  show  it ;  the  increase  of  students 
during  his  administration  shows  it;  the  united  testimony 
of  two, historians  of  Harvard  College  makes  it  certain;*  the 
more  so,  if  from  one  of  them  it  seems  extorted  by  the  pres- 
sure of  obvious  facts,  and  the  decisive  praise  of  contempo- 
rary documents.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  the  general  tone  of 
the  account  of  his  Presidency  to  which  I  refer  is  calculated 
to  leave  a  most  unfavorable  impression ;  and  that  the 
allusions  to  Mather,  the  epithets  applied,  and  the  motives 
ascribed  to  him,  are  such  as  would  condemn  him  to  the 
aversion  and  contempt  of  every  pure  and  honest  mind,  if 
the  intelligent  reader  did  not  understand  how  much  weight 
to  subtract  from  these  imputations,  when  offset  against 
the  unequivocal  and  substantial  eulogy  condensed  into  a 
single  sentence,  so  out  of  tune  with  what  precedes  and  fol- 
lows, that  one  is  almost  tempted  to  suspect  there  is  irony 
in  it:  —  "  That  Dr.  Mather  was  ivell  qualified  for  the  office  of 
President,  and  had  conducted  himself  in  it  faithfully  and 
laboriously,  is  attested  by  the  history  of  the  college,  the  lan- 
guage of  the  legislature,  and  the  acknowledgment  of  his 
cotemporariesP  This  is  a  satisfactory  verdict  as  it  is.  But 
if  it  were  brightened  in  the  coloring  —  as  truth  would  war- 
rant it  to  be — half  as  much  as  the  censure  surrounding  it 
is  deepened  beyond  the  demands  of  ♦justice,  it  would  give 
to  us  such  a  representation  of  this  eventful  Presidency  as 
plain  facts  substantiate ;  concurrent,  co-eval  testimony,  both 
private  and  public,  justifies;  and  the  impartial  verdict  of 
posterity  will  sanction.      He  loved  his  Alma  Mater,  as  we 

*  Pierce  and  Quincy. 


46  HISTOKY     OF 

love  it,  with  all  his  heart.  He  was  devoted  to  its  interests. 
He  gained  friends  and  raised  funds  for  it  at  home  and 
abroad.  He  worked  for  it  as  laboriously  as  any  man  could 
have  done  in  a  similar  situation.  He  gave  to  it  all  the 
time  and  strength  that  justice  to  other  obligations  would 
allow,  or  fidelity  to  the  conditions  under  which  he  held  his 
official  relation  to  it  could  demand.  He  was  especially 
sedulous  in  his  efforts  for  the  moral  and  religious  improve- 
ment of  the  students.  He  not  only  publicly  admonished 
them  of  their  duties  to  God,  but  by  private  interviews 
sought  to  lead  them  to  a  Christian  life.  His  discourses  to 
them  were  characterized  by  a  prophet's  earnestness  and  a 
parent's  love.  His  farewell  address,  which  has  been  pre- 
served, is  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  sincerity  of  his  piety, 
his  conscientiousness  as  a  preacher,  and  the  depth  and  ten- 
derness of  his  interest  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  young. 
His  only  offence  in  the  Presidency  —  if  offence  it  be  — 
was,  that  he  set  his  face  strongly  against  what  he  thought 
would  do  the  coUege  vital  injury ;  against  changes  which 
he  regarded  as  dangerous,  and  individuals  whose  theo- 
logical and,  it  may  be,  political  opinions  he  viewed  with 
distrust.  This,  I  believe,  is  the  head  and  front  of  his 
offending.  He  loved  the  college  as  "  the  school  of  the  pro- 
phets," and  wished  and  prayed  that  it  might  preserve  its 
claim  to  this  title  and  character  so  dear  to  him.  He  fore- 
saw a  growing  tendency  to  departure  from  "  Christ  and  the 
church,"  which  filled  him  with  anxious  forebodings.  He 
perceived  the  working  of  causes  which,  if  not  checked, 
would  inevitably  wrest  the  college  from  the  old  Calvinistic 
rule,  to  which  he  was  conscientiously  and  rigidly  attached. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  47 

and  place  it  under  influences  which  he  supposed  unfavora- 
ble to  evangelical  faith  and  piety. 

An,d  for  this  he  is  not  to  be  blamed,  but  rather  honored, 
if  his  opinions  were  conscientious  and  his  convictions  sin- 
cere. At  the  head  of  his  religious  party ;  nurtured  in  the 
ancient  faith  of  the  Puritans,  and  one  of  its  oldest  and 
firmest  living  defenders ;  having  deeper  insight  into  what 
was  going  on  than  any  other  man ;  in  the  very  position  to 
speak  and  act ;  full  of  zeal,  and  richly  furnished  by  study 
and  reflection;  his  whole  soul  stirred  within  him,  —  who 
can  censure  him  for  taking  the  stand  he  did,  and  striving 
to  maintain  it  with  aU  his  might  ?  And  if,  in  one  or  two 
instances,  he  overstepped  the  bounds  of  courtesy  and  mode- 
ration ;  if  sometimes  his  feelings  were  too  excited,  and  his 
speech  too  severe,  —  may  not  we,  who  sometimes  need  to 
be  excused  for  the  infirmity  of  our  nature,  judge  him  less 
harshly  when  some  inherited  "  rash  humor "  for  a  time 
makes  him  forget  himself?  —  (See  Appendix  C.) 

But  I  must  hasten  to  glance  at  another  field  of  his 
large  and  various  usefulness.  The  name  of  Increase 
Mather  is  as  intimately  connected  with  the  political  as 
with  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  his  country.  His  services 
to  New  England  in  this  respect  were  amongst  the  most 
important  that  were  rendered  by  the  most  able  and  patrio- 
tic men  of  the  age  in  which  he  Hved.  His  private  papers 
show  how  earnestly,  in  secret,  he  prayed  for  the  true  welfare 
of  his  native  land ;  while  the  records  of  the  General  Court 
testify,  and  the  annals  of  the  period  beai*  witness,  how 
generously  and  faithfully  he  labored  for  its  good,  whenever 
opportunity  was  offered  for  his  exertions,  or  necessity  re- 


48  HISTORY     OF 

quired  his  intervention.  No  better  proof  could  be  desired 
either  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  of  the  power  of  his  influence  and  abilities,  or  of  the 
devotedness  and  wisdom  of  his  patriotic  efforts,  than  is 
furnished  by  the  history  of  his  endeavors  to  retain  the  old 
charter,  and  his  agency  to  England  to  procure  a  new. 

Between  King  Charles  II.  and  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, particularly  the  Massachusetts,  there  had  been,  from 
the  beginning  of  his  reign,  no  cordial  agreement.  He  was 
exorbitant  in  his  claims ;  and  they  were  backward  in  yield- 
ing to  them.  He  was  constantly  encroaching  upon  their 
chartered  rights ;  and  they  were  as  pertinacious  in  main- 
taining them.  He  aimed  to  restrict  their  lawful  liberties ; 
and  they  were  determined  not  to  let  them  go.  Things 
could  not  long  continue  in  this  state,  without  leading  to 
open  collision  and  a  decisive  issue.  Accordingly,  in  Oct. 
1683,  Edmund  Randolph,  one  of  the  bitterest  enemies  of 
the  colony,  was  sent  over  from  the  king  with  a  message, 
that  Massachusetts  should  resign  its  charter,  or  a  Quo 
warranto  against  it  should  be  prosecuted.  The  people 
were  now  in  a  perilous  dilemma.  Should  they  voluntarily 
surrender  their  charter,  or  brave  the  king,  and  let  him  wrest 
it  away  from  them  ?  This  was  the  question,  —  a  grave 
question  truly.  It  was  referred  to  Increase  Mather,  who 
demonstrated  "  that  they  would  act  neither  the  part  of  good 
Christians  nor  of  true  Englishmen,  if  by  any  act  of  theirs 
they  should  be  accessory  to  the  plot  then  managing  to  pro- 
duce a  general  shipwreck  of  liberties."  This  opinion,  being 
circulated,  excited  against  him  the  rage  of  the  royal  parti- 
sans.    When  the  freemen  of  Boston  met  to  instruct  their 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  49 

deputies  to  the  General  Court,  he  was  desked  to  be  present 
in  the  town-house,  and  give  his  advice.  A  copy  of  his 
short  and  pithy  speech  on  that  occasion  was  found  among 
his  papers  after  his  decease.  It  is  as  characteristic  of  the 
age  and  of  the  man  as  it  is  creditable  to  him  as  a  stanch 
patriot  and  an  earnest  defender  of  his  country's  liberties.* 
Its  effect  was  decisive.  The  vote  of  the  meeting  was  una- 
nimous against  submission. 

"  The  example  of  Boston  decided  the  question  through- 
out the  country ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  early  instances  in 
which  the  lead  was  taken  by  this  town  in  those  spirited 
measures  of  opposition  to  arbitrary  oppression,  for  which 
the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  have  been  always  distin- 
guished." 

*  "  As  the  question  is  now  stated,  whether  you  will  make  a  full  sub- 
mission and  entire  resignation  of  your  charter  and  the  privileges  of  it  unto 
his  majesty's  pleasure,  I  verily  believe  we  shall  sin  against  the  God  of  heaven 
if  we  vote  an  affirmative  unto  it.  The  Scripture  teacheth  us  otherwise. 
We  know  what  Jephthah  said,  '  That  which  the  Lord  our  God  has  given  us, 
shall  we  not  possess  it  ? '  And  though  Naboth  ran  a  great  hazard  by  the 
refusal,  yet  he  said,  '  God  forbid  that  I  should  give  away  the  inheritance  of 
my  fathers ! '  Nor  would  it  be  wisdom  for  us  to  comply.  We  know  David 
made  a  wise  choice  when  he  chose  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  God,  rather  than 
into  the  hands  of  men.  If  we  make  a  full  submission  and  entire  resignation 
to  pleasure,  we  fall  into  the  hands  of  men  immediately.  But  if  we  do  it  not, 
we  still  keep  ourselves  in  the  hands  of  God,  we  trust  ourselves  with  his  pro- 
vidence ;  and  who  knows  what  God  may  do  for  us  ?  There  are  also  exam- 
ples before  our  eyes,  the  consideration  whereof  should  be  of  weight  with  us. 
Our  brethren  hard  by  us,  what  have  they  gained  by  being  so  ready  to  part 
with  their  liberties,  but  an  acceleration  of  their  miseries  ?  And  we  hear 
from  London,  that  when  it  came  to  [the  point  with  them],  the  loyal  citizens 
•would  not  make  a  full  submission  and  entire  resignation  to  pleasure,  lest 
their  posterity  should  curse  them  for  it.  And  shall  we,  then,  do  such  a 
thing  ?  I  hope  there  is  not  one  freeman  in  Boston  that  can  be  guilty  of 
it.  However,  I  have  discharged  my  conscience  in  what  I  have  thus  declared 
unto  you." 

7 


50  HISTORY     OF 

The  threatened  alternative  followed.  The  charter  was 
forfeited,  and  a  Governor  appointed  with  unlimited  power 
to  make  what  laws  suited  his  own  pleasure.*  His  ad- 
ministration was  oppressive  in  the  extreme,  and  hateful 
to  the  people.f 

In  this  grievous  condition,  the  only  prospect  of  remedy, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  best  men  of  the  country,  seemed  to  be 
through  the  mission  of  a  well-qualified  person  to  the  king, 
bearing  the  addresses  of  the  churches,  J  and  soliciting 
in  person,  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  the  royal  clemency  and 
protectioUi     The  man,  of  all  others,  upon  whom  the  public 

*  Sir  Edmund  Andros. 

t  The  weight  of  taxation  was  unreasonably  augmented.  The  cere- 
monial of  marriage  was  altered,  and  the  celebration  of  that  rite  confined  to 
ministers  of  the  Church  of  England,  of  whom  there  was  only  one  in  the 
■whole  Province  of  Massachusetts.  The  fasts  and  thanksgivings  appointed 
by  the  churches  were  suppressed  by  the  Governor.  He  often  took  occasion 
to  remark,  and  with  the  most  offensive  insolence,  in  presence  of  the  Council, 
that  the  colonists  would  find  themselves  mistaken,  if  they  supposed  that  the 
privileges  of  Englishmen  followed  them  to  the  ends  of  the  earth ;  and  that 
the  only  difference  between  their  condition  and  that  of  slaves  was  that  they 
were  not  bought  and  sold.  It  was  declared  unlawful  for  the  people  to  assem- 
ble in  public  meetings,  or  for  any  one  to  quit  the  province  without  a  pass- 
port from  the  Governor.  He  selected,  and  intrigued  with,  jurymen,  to  screen 
his  own  tools  from  punishment ;  and  questioned  the  validity  of  existing  land- 
titles,  requiring  new  grants  from  himself  to  make  them  perfect,  for  which  he 
exacted  exorbitant  fees.  —  See  Grahame's  History. 

X  A  notice  of  the  action  of  this  church  in  the  matter  of  the  address  to 
the  king  is  contained  in  the  following  vote :  — 

"Oct.  30,  1687,  after  the  sermon  and  service  of  the  afternoon  ended,  I 
desired  the  brethren  of  the  church  to  stay  in  the  meeting-house,  and  proposed 
to  them,  that  their  officers  might  in  their  name  draw  up  an  address  of  thanks 
to  the  king,  for  his  declaration,  wherein  he  does  promise  us  the  free  exercise 
of  our  religion,  and  that  he  will  maintain  us  in  the  enjoyment  of  our  rights 
and  possessions.  I  told  the  brethren  I  would  take  their  silence  for  consent. 
All  were  silent,  —  nemine  contradicente." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  61 

attention  was  turned  was  Increase  Mather.  Being  solicited 
to  undertake  the  important  duty,  he  laid  the  matter  before 
his  church,  in  the  manner  thus  recorded  by  himself:  — 

"  Dec.  11,  1687,  I  desked  the  brethren  to  stay,  and 
acquainted  them  that  it  was  thought  needful  that  some  one 
should  be  sent  with  an  address  of  thanks  to  the  king,  for 
his  gracious  declaration ;  and  that  it  had  been  proposed  to 
me  that  I  should  go  on  the  service.  I  told  them  that  if 
they  said  to  me,  Go,  I  would  cast  myself  on  the  providence 
of  God,  and  go  in  his  name ;  but  if  they  said  to  me.  Stay, 
I  would  not  stir. 

"  Major  Richards  and Way  declared  their  willing- 
ness and  free  consent  that  I  should  go.  I  said  to  the  bre- 
thren, if  any  of  them  were  otherwise  minded,  I  desired  they 
would  express  themselves.  Also,  I  would  take  their  silence 
for  consent.  They  were  then  all  silent,  and  so  did  unani- 
mously consent." 

Every  method  was  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent 
Mr.  Mather's  leaving  the  country.  He  was  arrested  by 
Randolph  for  defamation,  in  a  suit  for  five  hundred  pounds 
damage ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  intrigues  of  his  adver- 
sary, was  acquitted  by  the  jury ;  the  plaintiff  being  charged 
with  the  costs  of  court.  He  waited  on  the  Governor,  to 
acquaint  him  with  his  purposed  voyage;  and  gave  pub- 
lic notice,  in  a  sermon  at  the  "  Great  Lecture,"  on  the  text, 
"  If  thy  presence  go  not  with  us,  carry  us  not  up  from 
hence."  A  further  attempt  at  arrest  was  made,  but  frus- 
trated by  a  mere  accident.  Mr.  Mather  then  withdrew 
quietly  from  his  house,  in  disguise,  to  the  mansion  of  Col. 
Phillips  in  Charlestown.      On    his  way,  an  under-sheriff. 


52  HISTORY     OF 

placed  to  watch  his  movements,  recognized  him,  but  dared 
not  lay  hands  upon  him.  From  Charlestown  he  was  con- 
veyed by  some  young  men  of  his  flock  to  Winnisimmet, 
and,  in  a  small  boat,  carried  down  the  harbor.  The  ship 
"  President,"  in  which  he  was  expected  to  sail,  was  carefully 
searched  before  leaving  the  wharf,  of  course  without  success. 
He  was  taken  on  board  in  the  bay,  and  in  due  time  safely 
landed  in  England. 

It  would  carry  me  beyond  the  purpose  of  this  discourse 
to  give  a  full  history  of  Mr.  Mather's  agency  to  England ; 
though  to  do  so  would  be  to  set  before  you  in  strong  light 
his  distinguished  practical  talents.  His  task  was  an 
arduous  and  perplexing  one  ;  but,  by  sagacity  and  patience, 
by  untiring  energy,  by  an  ever-watchful  fidelity  to  his 
country's  interests,  combined  with  a  remarkable  power  of 
influence,  by  which  he  was  enabled  to  enlist  in  his  cause, 
as  far  as  any  man  could  have  done  it,  the  co-operation  of 
eminent  men  and  the  royal  favor  abroad,  and  at  the  same 
time  pubHc  sentiment  at  home,  he  performed  it  at  length, 
after  four  years  of  labor,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  merit  the 
thanks  of  his  countrymen,  and  to  command  the  praise  of 
every  impartial  historian.*    "  He  returned  to  New  England," 

*  "  The  speaker,  in  the  name  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  returned 
him  thanks  for  his  faithful,  painful,  indefatigable  endeavours  to  serve  his 
country ;  and  added  that  they  were  willing  to  reward  them,  but  that,  by 
reason  of  an  expensive  war,  they  were  unable  to  do  any  thing  proportionable 
to  his  merits.  To  which  Mr.  Mather  answered,  that  he  sought  not  theirs, 
but  them,  in  all  that  he  had  endeavored ;  and,  for  his  recompense,  he  was 
\villing  to  expect  it  in  another  world."  —  Cotton  Mather. 

"  A  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  was  appointed  for  his 
safe  arrival,  together  with  that  of  the  Governor,  Sir  William  Phipps,  and  for 
their  services  to  the  country."  —  Hutchinson,  vol.  i.  p.  416. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH,  53 

says  Mr.  Quincy,  "with  a  well-earned  consciousness  that 
he  had  fulfilled,  during  his  residence  abroad,  his  entire  duly 
to  the  colony."  —  Hist.  Harv.  Col,  vol.  i.  p.  78.  "  Whatever 
opinions  we  may  be  compelled  to  entertain  concerning  his 
measures  and  motives  on  other  occasions,  his  conduct  in 
this  great  crisis  of  his  country  entitles  him  to  unqualified 
approbation.  It  is  scarcely  possible  for  a  public  agent  to 
be  placed  in  circumstances  more  trying  or  critical ;  nor 
could  any  one  have  exhibited  more  sagacity  and  devoted- 
ness  to  the  true  interests  of  his  constituents.  By  his  wis- 
dom and  firmness  in  acceding  to  the  new  charter,  and  thus 
assuming  a  responsibility  of  the  weightiest  kind,  in  opposi- 
tion to  his  colleagues  in  the  agency,  he  saved  his  country, 
apparently,  from  a  rebellion  or  a  revolution,  or  from  having 
a  constitution  imposed  by  the  will  of  the  transatlantic  sove- 
reign, possibly  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet."  —  Hist.  Harv. 
Col.,  vol.  i.  p.  123.* 

*  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  be  able  to  adduce  the  peculiarly  valua- 
ble testimony  of  President  Quincy  in  this  connection.  It  is,  however,  a 
matter  of  wonder  what  solution  that  justly  eminent  man  found  for  the  pro- 
blem which  must  suggest  itself  to  every  attentive  reader  of  his  history  of  the 
college,  and  can  hardly  have  failed  to  occur  to  himself,  —  how  it  happened 
that  a  man,  such  as  he  represents  Increase  Mather,  "restless,  obtrusive,  exci- 
table, a  partisan  by  profession,  whose  life  had  been  one  series  of  theological 
and  political  controversy,  always  harnessed  and  ready  and  restless  for  the 
onset ;  now  courting  the  statesmen,  now  mingling  with  the  multitude ;  excit- 
ing the  clergy  in  the  synod,  and  the  congregation  in  the  pulpit,  and  the 
people  in  the  halls  of  popular  assembly ;  a  man  of  an  ill-governed  and  over- 
bearing spirit,  violent,  ambitious ;  "  a  man  who  is  represented  as  the  dupe  of 
his  own  vanity,  even  in  his  prayers,  and  willing  to  make  college,  church,  or 
creed  subservient  to  his  personal  aggrandisement,  —  how  it  happened  that 
a  man  of  such  a  temper,  such  motives,  and  such  a  character,  should  have 
stood  the  severe  test  of  the  four  years'  agency  in  England  so  honorably  as  to 
expose  no  weak  point,  even  to  that  most  piercing  discernment  which  has 


54  HISTORY     OF 

The  value  in  which  his  cotemporaries  held  his  services, 
and  the  esteem  with  which  they  regarded  his  character,  are 
strikingly  shown  in  a  letter  from  the  principal  Dissenting 
clergymen  in  England  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston,  — 
a  letter  no  less  noticeable  for  the  beauty  and  gi-ace  of  its 
style  than  for  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  its  sentiments. 
In  the  course  of  it,  they  say,  "  The  truth  is,  your  affairs 
were  so  difficult  and  thorny,  that  the  rare  union  of  the  wis- 
dom of  the  serpent  and  the  innocence  of  the  dove  was 
requisite  in  managing  them.  .  .  .  We  must,  therefore,  give 
this  true  testimony  of  our  much  esteemed  and  beloved  bro- 
ther, Mr.  Increase  Mather,  that  with  inviolate  integrity, 
excellent  prudence,  and  unfainting'  diligence,  he  hath  managed 
the  great  business  committed  to  his  trust.  As  he  is  instructed 
in  the  school  of  heaven  to  minister  in  the  affairs  of  the 
soul,  so  he  is  furnished  with  a  talent  to  transact  affairs  of 
state.  His  proceedings  have  been  with  that  caution  and 
circumspection  which  is  correspondent  to  the  weight  of  his 
commission.  He,  with  courage  and  constancy,  has  pursued 
the  noble  scope  of  his  employment;  and,  understanding 
the  true  moment  of  things,  has  preferred  the  public  good 
to  the  vain  conceits  of  some,  that  more  might  have  been 
obtained  if  peremptorily  insisted  on." 

But  his  services  abroad  were  not  confined  to  the  single 
object  for  which  he  had  been  sent.  He  constantly  preached 
in  the  pulpits  of  his  brethren,  declining  all  remuneration  to 
himself,  and  asking  only  the  interest  of  the  ministers  on 
behalf   of   his   country.      He   let   slip   no   opportunity  to 

penetrated  to  his  hidden  motives,  and  brought  to  light  every  real  or  possible ' 
infirmity  of  his  spirit. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  55 

advance  the  interests  of  religion  in  England.  He  gained 
the  general  esteem  of  the  Dissenting  churches,  and  the  inti- 
mate friendship  of  the  leading  divines  of  aU  parties,  —  of 
Tillotson  and  Burnet,  as  well  as  of  Bates  and  Mead  and 
Baxter.  Through  his  instrumentality,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  Dr.  Annesley  and  others,  more  than  through 
that  of  any  other  man,  the  Union  of  the  English  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  Churches  was  effected ;  and  with 
his  assistance  the  "  Heads  of  Agreement  "  were  drawn  up. 
For  this  eminent  service,  and  "the  great  pains  taken  there- 
in," he  received  a  vote  of  thanks  from  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Devonshire,  through  their  Moderator,  the  celebrated 
John  Flavel.* 

For  the  college  also  he  strenuously  labored,  laying  its 
case  before  the  king,  and  commending  its  interests  to  the 
wealthy  and  munificent.  If  he  cannot  justly  claim  the 
credit,  attributed  to  him  by  his  son,  of  having,  "  through 
his  acquaintance  with,  and  proposal  to,  that  good-spirited 
man  and  lover  of  aU  good  men,  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis,  intro- 
duced his  benefactions  to  the  college,"  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  he  used  what  influence  he  had,  to  further  the 
noble  purpose  which  has  made  that  name  honored  and 
dear  to  every  New  England  scholar,  and  every  admirer  of 
liberality  and  goodness. 

I  cannot  close  this  brief  sketch  of  his  foreign  labors, 
without  alluding  to  yet  one  other  service  to  New  England, 
too  important  to  be  forgotten.  I  refer  to  the  happy  union, 
brought  about  directly  by  his  influence,  between  the  colo- 

*  Cotton  Mather's  Life  of  Increase. 


56  HISTORY     OF 

nies  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts.  He  discovered  that 
a  design  was  on  foot  to  unite  Plymouth  to  New  York, 
notwithstanding  the  distance  between  them.  Nay,  it  had 
already  gone  so  far,  that,  when  Mr.  Slaughter  was  appointed 
Governor  of  New  York,  Plymouth  was  actually  put  into  his 
commission.  It  was  taken  out,  and  the  commission 
altered,  only  through  Mr.  Mather's  industry  and  discreet 
application.*  A  second  time,  the  same  project  was  at- 
tempted, and,  on  the  very  eve  of  its  consummation,  was 
again  defeated  through  his  renewed  exertions.  Let  the  wise 
and  firm  agency  by  which  the  two  choicest  colonies  of  the 
Pilgrims  were  so  early  bound  together,  in  preparation  for 
that  noble  State  in  which  they  are  now  blended  insepara- 
bly and  for  ever,  be  cherished  in  grateful  remembrance ! 

It  deserves  to  be  mentioned  further,  in  connection  with 
this  important  transaction,  that  Mr.  Mather  served  the 
country  without  any  remuneration.  It  was  charged  against 
him,  in  a  malignant  publication,  that  he  had  spent  much 
of  the  public  money  during  his  negotiation.  The  accusa- 
tion was  so  grossly  false,  that  his  friends,  having  obtained 
from  him  an  exacf  statement  of  the  facts  in  the  case, 
prepared  and  published  a  vindication.  In  this  it  appears 
that  he  not  only  never  demanded  a  farthing  of  recom- 
pense for  the  four  years  spent  abroad,  but  actually  pro- 
cured, in  donations  to  the  province  and  the  college,  at 
least  nine  hundred  pounds  more  than  all  the  expenses  of 
his  agency.f 

*  Hutchinson,  vol.  i.  p.  405. 

t  This  last  expression  leads  me  to  suppose,  that  the  actual  "  business- 
expenses"  of  the  agency,  separate  from  the  agent's  private  expenses  and 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  57 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  trace  the  career  of  Mr. 
Mather,  and  develop  his  character  and  opinions,  especially 
in  connection  with  the  most  important  public  transactions 
and  controversies  in  which  he  was  engaged.  You  have 
seen  that  from  early  life  he  was  marked  for  eminence  in 
church  and  state,  and  no  sooner  had  arrived  at  maturity 
than  "  he  was  looked  up  to  as  a  leader  in  both  religious 
and  civil  affairs,  equally  active,  distinguished,  and  trusted.* 
You  have  seen  that  he  was  a  zealous  Calvinist  and  a 
thorough-going  Congregationalist ;  strict  in  doctrine,  in  an 
age  of  strictness ;  severe  in  morals,  where  morality  was  the 

every  thing  in  the  nature  of  a  salary,  may  have  been,  at  least  in  part,  pro- 
vided for  by  the  colony.  In  a  statement  written  by  him  while  in  London 
in  1691,  he  uses  this  language :  "  Besides  what  was  sent  to  me  out  of  New 
England,  I  expended  upwards  of  two  hundred  pounds  of  my  own  personal 
estate,  out  of  love  to  that  people ;  and  I  did,  for  their  sake,  borrow  of  a 
merchant  in  London  above  three  hundred  pounds  more."  Referring  to 
a  later  period  of  his  agency,  he  says,  "  For  more  than  a  twelvemonth,  not 
one  penny  was  received,  so  that  I  was  forced  either  to  suffer  a  ruin  to  come 
upon  the  country,  or  else  must  borrow  money  again  to  serve  them ;  which 
I  did,  and  engaged  all  the  estate  I  have  in  the  world  for  the  repayment 
thereof." 

*  "  Nature  had  bestowed  upon  him  the  power  to  be  great,  and  he  was 
religiously  sensible  of  his  obligations  to  exercise  this  power  usefully.  Born 
and  trained  in  a  young  colony,  struggling  with  hardships,  and  forcing  its 
Avay  through  peril  and  fear ;  his  mind  fashioned  by  a  father  who  had  all  the 
zeal  and  firmness  which  characterized  the  Puritans  of  that  age, — a  race 
eminently  formed  to  do  and  to  dare,  —  thus  gifted  and  educated,  he  be- 
came peculiarly  fit,  and  no  wonder  it  was  felt  that  he  was  fit,  to  have  an 
ascendency,  and  exercise  a  control.  He  had  received  the  best  education  of 
his  own  country ;  he  had  completed  it  abroad ;  he  had  been  driven  from 
place  to  place,  suffering  for  his  religion,  and  presented  with  strong  tempta- 
tions to  abandon  it ;  thus  acting  a  hurried  and  various  part  in  the  most  try- 
ing times  in  the  mother-country ;  and  after  this  discipline,  so  calculated  to 
give  firmness  and  character,  he  returned  to  labor  in  the  service  of  this  infant 
state.  Nothing  can  be  conceived  more  likely  to  prepare  a  man  to  act  well 
his  part  in  so  peculiar  a  scene."  —  Rec.  H.  Ware,  Jun. 
8 


58  HISTORY     OF 

sternest;    and  rigid  in  piety,  where  all  were  rigid.     You 
have  seen  that  he  was  ardent,  and  yet  firm ;  enthusiasti- 
cally devotional,  yet  eminently  sagacious  and  practical ;  of 
quick  impulses,  yet  persevering  in  purpose  and  patient  in 
execution  ;  a  lover  of  study,  yet  at  the  same  time  fond  of 
affairs  ;    familiar  with  books,  yet  equally  acquainted  with 
mep;  devoted  to  the  church,  and  yet  ever  at  the  service  of 
the  state.     You  have  seen  that  he  was  bold  and  deter- 
mined alike  in  attack  or  in  defence,  when  any  important 
principle  was  involved,  or  any  public  interest  at  stake.     He 
may  have  sometimes  appeared  to  you  ambitious,  but  never 
out  of  the  line  of  duty.     He  may  have  struck  you  as  fond 
of  authority,  but  never  as  subordinating  principle  to  place. 
You  may  have  inferred  that  he  wished  to  rule,  but  never 
where  he  was  not  reasonably  conscious  of  superior  ability, 
or  sincerely  desirous  of  some  result  which  he  believed  bene- 
ficial to  his  country  or  salutary  to  the  church.     You  may 
have  regretted  in  him  a  few  infirmities,  in  common  with 
the  best  of  men ;  but  you  have  admired  in  his  character  a 
variety  and  combination  of  virtues  rarely  surpassed  or  even 
equalled.     You  may  have  wondered  at  occasional  mani- 
festations of  irritability  and  rudeness  in  dispute,  because 
they  break  the  harmony  of  an   otherwise   holy  life;   but 
they  are  not  sufficient  to  destroy  your  conviction,  that  at 
heart  he  was  sound  in  goodness,  and  in  spirit  consecrated 
to  God. 

He  had  his  enemies,  however,  in  his  own  day ;  some  of 
them  among  the  great  of  the  land,  and  some  full  of  bitter- 
ness ;  and  they  did  not  speire  their  accusations.  His  distin- 
guished position  exposed  him  to  their  shafts.     His  political 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  59 

measures  were  offensive  to  some  ;  his  theological  opinions, 
to  others.  To  some  men,  he  was  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
their  preferment;  others  hated  him,  as  having  been  de- 
prived by  his  influence  of  the  offices  they  coveted ;  others 
remembered  him  as  a  powerful  antagonist  in  controversy ; 
others  envied  his  popularity,  or  feared  his  opposition. 

But,  in  spite  of  all  these,  and  of  all  that  they  have 
written,  his  name,  till  very  recently,  has  held  an  honorable 
place  in  the  history  both  of  church  and  state.  The  fame 
which  contemporary  enemies  could  not  destroy  has  encoun- 
tered, at  length,  a  more  powerful  and  honored  assailant, 
from  whose  condemnation  it  can  never  rise  again,  if  it  be 
not  aided  by  the  inherent  resurgency  of  virtue,  ■ —  if  it 
be  not  vindicated  through  the  eternal  law,  that  merit  shall 
overmaster  the  influence  of  the  strong,  and  disannul  the 
adverse  judgment  that  seems,  and  is  intended  to  be,  most 
just. 

I  trust  that  truth  is  dearer  to  me  than  the  reputation  of 
one  whom  I  venerate ;  and  if  the  truth  required  that  the 
image  of  one  of  my  predecessors  should  be  taken  down 
from  the  shrine  which  it  has  occupied,  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years,  in  the  churches'  reverence,  and  publicly  dis- 
honored, I  could  bow  the  head  in  silence,  though  I  might 
not  sympathize  with  the  spoiler,  nor  be  accessory  to  the 
deed.  But  when  I  feel,  as  in  the  case  of  our  first  Mather, 
that  the  claims  of  truth  are  coincident  with  the  claims  of 
affection,  and  that  the  sentiment  of  justice  conspires  with 
the  impulse  of  pious  duty,  it  would  be  no  less  criminal 
than  mean-spirited  to  refrain  from  attempting  to  reinstate 
his  name  in  its  former  glory,  because  to  do  so  must  bring 


60  HISTORY     OF 

me   into   conflict  with   the   living   whom    I    respect    and 
honor. 

Grave  charges  have  been  made  against  him,  which  I 
need  not  here  repeat.  But  what  is  the  gromid  on  which 
they  rest  ?  what  the  source  from  which  the  proofs  that  sus- 
tain them  have  been  gathered  or  inferred?  Every  public 
document  of  his  times,  in  which  his  name  is  mentioned, 
speaks  of  him  in  terms  of  respect.  All  his  public  acts 
praise  him.  Repeated  votes  of  the  court  and  of  the  college 
bear  strong  testimony  to  the  value  set  upon  his  services, 
and  the  esteem  in  which  his  character  was  held.  The 
clergy  honored  him  with  undoubted  marks  of  reverence. 
Single  churches  looked  up  to  him  for  counsel,  and  assem- 
bled churches  acknowledged  his  authority.  In  difficult 
crises,  the  magistrates  consulted  him ;  and,  in  perilous 
emergencies,  the  colony  employed  his  agency  and  hear- 
kened to  his  advice.  And,  to  crown  all,  the  record  of  his 
long  ministry  to  this  church  is  not  only  unstained  by  a  sin- 
gle line  to  his  discredit,  but  spread  all  over  with  proofs  of 
his  fidelity  and  power,  tokens  of  the  love  which  was  che- 
rished towards  him  by  his  flock,  and  names  of  the  sainted 
or  illustrious,  who  are  the  seals  of  his  ministry,  the  stars  of 
this  church,  the  jewels  of  God. 

Where,  then,  is  the  ground  of  these  accusations  ?  They 
are  professedly  supported,  in  great  measure,  upon  the  evi- 
dence which  his  private  diary  suppUes.  His  public  acts, 
interpreted  by  this,  are  traced,  it  is  said,  to  then*  inte- 
rior motives ;  and,  again,  the  motives  so  deciphered  are 
transferred  to  other  public  acts,  of  which  the  ostensible 
motive  is  suspected,  while  the  diary  furnishes  no  other; 


TUE     SECOND     CHURCH.  61 

and  thus  he  is  made,  unintentionally,  to  convict  himself. 
His  sincerity  in  his  closet  becomes  traitor  to  his  caution 
before  the  world.  His  inadvertence  behind  the  curtain  dis- 
closes his  artifice  on  the  stage.  And  secret  passions,  which 
his  contemporaries  could  only  suspect,  are  unwittingly  re- 
vealed to  the  searching  eye  of  the  future  historian.  For 
these  ends,  the  sanctity  of  his  closet  has  been  invaded ;  the 
record  of  his  solitary  devotions,  his  most  sacred  hours,  has 
been  ransacked;  the  record  of  his  prayers,- — prayers,  many 
of  which  are  so  tender  and  earnest  as  might  touch  the  coldest 
heart ;  of  his  confessions  to  God,  —  confessions  so  profound- 
ly humble  that  one  might  well  shrink  from  prying  into  what 
was  told  as  a  secret  only  to  Him  who  is  more  merciful 
than  man,  —  this  record  of  prayers,  confessions,  resolves, 
interior  experiences,  with  here  and  there  a  fact  or  a  com- 
ment upon  men  and  things,  has  been  shuffled  over  and 
spelled  out,  to  supply  instruments  for  the  destruction  of  the 
writer's  own  fame,  which  public  registers  and  all  other 
sources  had  failed  to  furnish. 

I  cannot  trust  myself  to  speak,  as  I  feel,  of  such  dealing 
with  the  private  papers  of  holy  men.  They  were  not 
written  for  critical  eyes  to  examine,  or  irreverent  observers 
to  inspect.  Such  will  be  sure  to  misunderstand,  and  can 
never  fairly  interpret  them.  What  is  uttered  concerning 
one's  self  before  God,  in  the  moment  of  deep  contrition 
and  humiliation,  will  be  taken  as  literally  as  if  it  were  the 
calm  verdict  of  a  judge.  The  expression  of  that  sense 
of  unworthiness  which  bows  the  pious  soul  in  shame  be- 
fore the  immaculate  holiness  of  Heaven,  and  finds  vent  in 
stern  self-upbraidings  for  faults  and  blemishes  which  com- 


62  HISTOKY     OF 

mon  men  would  not  notice  in  themselves,  and  none  but 
the  saintly  would  mourn,  will  be  construed  as  if  it  were  the 
positive  testimony  of  a  witness  on  the  stand,  to  guilt  as 
grievous  as  the  terms  in  which  it  is  stated  are  strong.  The 
impressions  of  a  desponding  mood ;  the  emotions  of  an  hour 
of  joy;  the  sudden  feehng  aroused  by  a  real  wrong  from  an 
enemy,  or  an  imagined  injury  from  a  friend ;  the  fancy  that 
flits  through  the  mind ;  the  doubt  that  passes  over  it  like 
the  shadow  of  a  cloud ;  the  superstitious  feeling  that  for  a 
moment  weighs  upon  the  heart,  and  which  the  wisest  men 
cannot  always  shake  off,  —  all  these,  or  any  one  of  them, 
merely  because  they  are  noted  down,  are  read  as  if  they 
were  established  convictions,  settled  opinions,  confirmed 
habits ;  and  as  if,  having  been  once  experienced,  they  must 
needs  be  stamped  upon  the  character  and  fixed  in  the  life 
for  ever. 

But  the  diary  of  Increase  Mather  does  not  support  the 
charges  that  rest  upon  it.  It  does  not  establish  the  impu- 
tation of  selfish  and  mean  motives.  It  does  not  show  that 
he  was  a  self-seeker.  It  does  not  convict  him  of  being 
influenced  by  any  sinister  purposes  in  his  management  of 
the  affairs  of  church,  state,  or  college.  There  are  some 
entries,  indeed,  which  one  so  disposed  might  easily  tm*n 
into  ridicule;  there  are  some,  that,  judged  by  a  modern 
standard,  might  seem  superstitious  and  credulous ;  there 
are  some  which  might  be  thought  to  indicate  a  degree  of 
self-esteem  hardly  to  be  expected  in  a  mature  Christian, — 
yet  often  seen  in  the  diaries  of  the  best,  though  likely 
to  be  overrated  by  the  reader,  who  forgets  that  the  jour- 
nalist wrote  only  of  himself  and  for  himself;  and,  after 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  63 

all,  not  greater,  I  imagine,  than  might  be  detected  in  the 
very  persons  who  sneer  at  it,  if  all  their  private  feelings 
were  written  down,  —  and  there  are  other  passages  which 
show,  that,  like  other  men,  he  had  some  imperfections  ; 
enough  to  give  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  blessed  cha- 
rity in  his  human  judges,  and  sweet  mercy  in  the  Divine. 
But,  notwithstanding  all  these,  it  is  full  of  the  sincerest 
piety  and  the  strongest  faith ;  it  overflows  with  prayer,  — 
prayer  gentle  and  tender  as  a  little  child's,  and  strong  and 
urgent  as  the  passionate  wrestlings  of  a  powerful  spirit 
breaking  its  way  through  doubts  and  darkness  to  come 
nearer  to  peace  and  God.  It  clearly  shows  that  the  master- 
passion  was  not  ambition,  but  piety;  that  the  ruling  pur- 
pose was  not  self-aggrandisement,  but  the  glory  of  his 
Maker ;  that,  whatever  his  faults,  he  longed  and  strove  to 
correct  them ;  and,  whatever  his  weaknesses,  he  sincerely 
thirsted  after  righteousness,  and  heartily  loved  his  God. 

If  the  secrets  of  all  our  hearts  were  revealed ;  if  every 
thought  and  purpose  were  disclosed ;  if  all  our  hidden 
motives  were  brought  into  the  light ;  if  every  imagination 
and  desire  and  day-dream  of  our  solitary  hours  were 
exposed  to  the  inspection  of  earth  and  heaven ;  few,  very 
few,  would  have  less  for  which  to  blush  before  the  world, 
and  less  for  which  to  be  ashamed  before  the  Almighty, 
than,  judging  from  his  diary  alone,  would  he  whose  life  we 
have  been  reviewing. 

And  now  I  gladly  turn  from  considering  the  charges 
against  him,  to  take  one  more  glance  at  his  life,  as  history 
has  represented  it  to  us  in  his  latter  days.  The  fire  that 
burned  so  warmly  in  his  manhood,  old  age  did  not  quench. 


64  HISTORY     OF 

His  preaching  was  still  vigorous,  even  at  fourscore  years. 
Large  congregations,  as  at  first,  gathered  to  listen  to  him, 
and  "  lost  no  appetite  for  his  instructions  "  because  he  had 
fed  them  so  long.*  The  churches  loved  his  venerable  pre- 
sence, and  "  would  not  permit  an  ordination,"  we  are  told, 
"  to  be  carried  on  without  him,  as  long  as  he  was  able  to 
be  conveyed  to  them  in  a  coach."  His  pen,  that  had  writ- 
ten so  much,  did  not  become  idle  or  weary,  nor  lose  any 
thing  of  its  power  in  his  tremulous  hand. 

On  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  settlement,  he  re- 
quested a  dismissal  from  the  church ;  but  they  would  not 
listen  to  it ;  though  afterwards,  "  to  render  his  old  age 
easy  to  him,  they  wisely  and  kindly  voted  that  the  labors 
of  the  pulpit  should  be  expected  of  him  only  when  he 
should  find  himself  able  and  inclined  for  them."  His  last 
sickness,  though  long  and  painful,  and  attended  with  occa- 
sional depression  of  spirits,  was  patiently  borne  in  expecta- 
tion of  rest  and  reward ;  and  when  he  died,  at  length,  on 
the  bosom  of  his  son,  it  was  with  repeated  ejaculations  of 
joyous  belief  and  hope  that  he  should  on  that  day  be  with 
Christ  in  Paradise.f 

The  day  of  his  death  was  a  day  of  general  mourning. 
An  honorable  funeral  was  given  him,  such  as  few  citizens 
had  been  known  to  receive  before ;  and  every  testimony  of 


*  It  is  said  that  notes  were  not  imfrequently  taken  of  his  later  sermons 
by  stenographers,  for  private  circulation  and  for  the  press. 

t  On  being  told,  one  day,  that  his  excellent  friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis, 
of  London,  was  inquisitive  in  his  letters  whether  he  was  yet  in  the  land  of 
the  living,  he  replied,  "  No  !  tell  him  I  am  going  to  it.  This  poor  world  is 
the  land  of  the  dying.     'Tis  heaven  that  is  tlio  true  land  of  the  living." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  65 

affection  and  veneration  accompanied  him  to  the  tomb.* 
"  The  feelings  of  that  day  have  passed  away ;  the  eyes  that 
knew  him,  and  wept  for  him,  have  long  been  sealed  in 
death ;  and  other  generations  have  risen,  and  gone  by,  and 
been  forgotten.  But  the  name  of  Increase  Mather  still 
lives ;  and,  when  hundreds  of  generations  shall  have  sunk 
to  irrecoverable  oblivion,  he  shall  still  be  hailed  as  one  of 
the  early  worthies  of  New  England."  f 

But  it  is  time  that  we  should  pass  on,  in  our  survey,  to 
the  characters  of  succeeding  pastors  and  the  record  of  later 
events.  It  will  not  seem  to  you  that  I  have  devoted  too 
large  a  proportion  of  this  discourse  to  our  second  minister, 
if,  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  he  presided  over  the 
Second  Church  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole  period  of  its 
existence,  you  regard  his  distinguished  abilities,  his  import- 
ant services  both  to  church  and  state,  and  also  the  necessity 
that  was  laid  upon  me  to  endeavor  to  rescue  his  character, 
at  least  with  this  congregation,  from  opprobrium  and  for- 
getfulness.  If  I  have  delineated  that  character  in  lines  of 
truth,  and  you  can  trust  the  fidelity  of  the  sketch,  as  I  am 
sure  you  trust  the  purity  of  my  purpose  in  defending  him, 
his  moral  portrait  will  henceforth  hang  in  the  minds  of 
yourselves  and  your  children  above  the  reach  of  ridicule  or 
reproach,  as  the  likeness,  not,  indeed,  of  a  faultless,  but 
of  an  eminently  useful  and  holy  man. 

The  only  important  event  relating  to  the  history  of  the 

*  Hon.  Wm.  Dummer,  Lieut.  Governor;  Chief  Justice  Sewall;  the 
President  of  the  College ;  and  three  of  the  principal  clergymen,  —  were  pall- 
bearers. The  students  of  Cambridge,  a  multitude  of  ministers,  and  citizens 
of  every  rank,  joined  the  funeral  procession. 

t  Henry  Ware,  jun. 
9 


66  HISTORY    OF   THE   SECOND    CHURCH. 

Second  Church  that  took  place  towards  the  close  of  the 
ministry  of  Increase  Mather,  was  the  amicable  separation 
of  a  part  of  his  society,  which  had  become  too  numerous 
for  their  meeting-house,  in  order  to  the  establishment  of 
a  new  church  at  the  north  part  of  the  city,  called  afterwards 
the  "  New  North,"  of  which  Dr.  Parkman  was  recently  the 
respected  pastor. 

It  is  also  worth  recording  here,  that  the  number  of 
admissions  to  the  church  during  the  ministry  of  the  elder 
Mather  was  over  one  thousand ;  and  the  number  of  bap- 
isms  recorded  —  the  record  being  incomplete  previous  to 
the  year  1689  —  was  about  thirty -three  hundred.* 

*  The  exact  numbers  during  the  ministry  of  Increase  and  Cotton 
Mather  were  of  admissions,  eleven  hundred  and  four,  and  of  baptisms,  for  the 
thirty-nine  years  during  which  the  record  is  complete,  three  thousand  three 
hundred  and  eighty-four. 


Co  Han  r/flcJ^y^. 


67 


SECOND    PERIOD. 

From    the    Death    of    Increase   Mather,    1723,    to    1768. 


COTTON  MATHER.  —  JOSHUA  GEE.  — SAMUEL  MATHER. 
SAMUEL  CHECKLEY. 

The  name  that  stands  next  on  the  list  of  the  pastors  of 
the  Second  Church  has  been  for  a  century  more  familiarly 
mentioned  and  more  widely  known  than  that  of  any  other 
New  England  minister.*  Its  celebrity,  however,  is  less 
enviable  than  extensive.  It  is  seldom  mentioned  but  in 
association  with  some  anecdote  of  credulity,  quaintness,  or 
oddity,  that  excites  a  smile ;  or  some  instance  of  supersti- 
tion, irritability,  or  vanity,  that  provokes  a  sneer.  Yet, 
notwithstanding  the  universality  of  his  fame,  the  quantity 

*  Cotton  Mather,  son  of  Increase  and  Maria,  —  daughter  of  the  cele- 
brated John  Cotton,  from  whom  he  took  his  Christian  name,  —  was  born  in 
Boston,  Thursday,  Eeb.  12,  1662-3.  He  was  educated  at  the  Free  School 
in  Boston,  under  the  care,  first  of  Benjamin  Thompson,  a  good  classical 
scholar  and  a  poet ;  and,  afterwards,  of  the  famous  Ezekiel  Cheever.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years,  he  had  made  such  advance  in  Latin  and  Greek  as  to  be 
throughly  prepared  to  enter  Harvard  College.  He  took  his  first  degree  with 
marked  distinction  at  sixteen,  and  his  second  before  he  was  quite  nineteen. 
On  account  of  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  fearing  that  he  should  not  be 
able  to  preach,  he  first  studied  medicine.  But,  having  overcome  his  stam- 
mering by  persevering  efforts,  he  devoted  himself  to  his  favorite  study,  theo- 
logy. After  having  for  a  long  time  hesitated  to  accept  the  call  of  the  Second 
Church,  he  was  at  length  ordained  as  colleague  with  his  father,  May  13, 
1685. 


68  HISTORY     OF 

that  has  been  written  and  spoken  concerning  him,  and  the 
quite  distinct  impression  of  him  which  the  generality  of 
persons  suppose  they  have  formed,  I  am  convinced  that 
few  historical  characters  are  less  understood  than  Cotton 
Mather.  He  has  paid  the  penalty  always  attached  to  sin- 
gularity. The  protuberance  of  a  few  eccentricities  has 
thrown  all  the  elements  of  his  character  into  false  perspec- 
tive. His  oddities  stand  in  the  light  of  his  virtues.  They 
give  a  grotesqueness  to  his  whole  image.  They  mark  the 
man  so  strongly  that  all  who  see  them  imagine  they  under- 
stand him.  "  This  is  himself,  and  nobody  else,"  people  say; 
and  therefore  they  think  they  know  ivho  and  ivhat  he  is,  and 
all  that  is  worth  knowing  about  him.  They  conclude  they 
have  a  true  likeness,  when  they  have  only  a  broad  carica- 
ture, founded  upon  some  odd  feature  or  two ;  and,  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction  at  their  own  penetration  and  his  pecu- 
liarities, inquire  no  deeper. 

But  those  who  know  only  the  eccentricities  of  Cotton 
Mather  know  little  about  him.  Those  who  suppose  they 
comprehend  him,  because  they  are  familiar  with  the  current 
anecdotes  about  him,  or  imagine  that  he  could  be  fairly 
sketched  by  a  few  strong  touches,  could  not  be  under  a 
greater  misapprehension.  The  truth  is,  few  characters  are 
less  intelligible ;  few  harder  to  describe ;  few  are  so  many- 
sided  ;  few  have  so  little  uniformity ;  few  have  so  great  a 
variety  of  qualities,  in  such  strange  admixture ;  few  show 
such  supposed  inconsistencies ;  few  present  themselves  in 
such  ever-shilting  positions  and  hues,  such  kaleidoscopic 
changes  and  combinations;  few  exhibit  such  surprising 
contrasts,  such   an  apparent  jumble  of   great  and  small, 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  69 

sharp  and  flat,  wise  and  simple,  saintly  and  ordinary.  To 
group  all  these  elements  together,  to  arrange  and  blend 
them  into  any  thing  like  a  complete  and  satisfactory  por- 
trait, would  be  a  task  that  requires  more  penetration  and 
skill  than  have  ever  yet  been  exercised  upon  his  biography. 
It  is  a  task,  certainly,  which  I  have  neither  the  disposition, 
the  time,  nor  the  ability  to  perform. 

All  that  I  shall  attempt  in  this  brief  sketch  is  merely 
to  rectify  the  false  perspective  to  which  I  have  referred ;  to 
arrange  the  qualities  of  the  man,  so  far  as  I  have  occasion 
to  notice  them,  in  what  seems  to  me  to  be  the  order  of 
nature ;  to  change  the  caricature  into  a  true  picture ;  to 
remove  whatever  distortion  is  the  result  merely  of  the  point 
of  view,  and  not  inherent  in  the  person.  There  are  few 
faces  that  have  not  some  unhandsome  feature,  or  do  not 
look  less  pleasing  in  one  aspect  than  in  another.  By 
mere  arrangement  of  position,  the  artist  can  exaggerate  or 
relieve  the  deformity.  As  well  might  he  say  that  the  sin- 
gle view  in  which  the  defect  is  most  conspicuous  is  the 
only  one  true  to  nature,  while  in  every  other  it  is  softened, 
and  in  some  almost  wholly  concealed,  as  the  biographer 
insist  upon  presenting  the  character  he  describes  in  the  very 
attitude  and  drapery  to  set  off  a  weakness,  or  make  an 
eccentricity  ridiculous.  If  men  of  distinguished  virtues 
and  learning  and  intense  activity  sometimes  do  or  say  a 
foolish  thing,  they  must  not  be  brought  on  the  stage  before 
the  world  in  a  fool's  cap  and  feathers,  as  if  that  were  a  true 
representation  of  their  real  character,  —  as  if  in  sober? 
actual  life  they  acted  no  higher  and  more  earnest  part. 
Let  their  folly  be  ridiculed,  but  not  at  the  expense  of  their 


70  HISTORY     OF 

wisdom.     Let  men  laugh  at  their  oddities,  but  not  at  the 
cost  of  a  just  respect  for  their  virtues. 

I  undertake,  however,  no  defence  of  Cotton  Mather.  I 
have  no  wish,  and  feel  no  call,  to  be  his  apologist.  I  would 
not  cover  a  single  fault  in  him  or  any  man,  except  under 
the  mantle  of  charity,  which  is  transparent  to  the  truth, 
which  does  not  hide  the  weakness  over  which  it  is  thrown, 
but  only,  as  a  sign  of  sanctuary,  protects  it  from  illiberal 
judgment.  Every  character,  essentially  useful  and  good, 
can  bear  its  own  faults,  though  many,  and  can  bear  to 
have  them  seen.  They  serve,  in  part,  to  set  off  its  virtues. 
They  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  shadows  that  give  promi- 
nence and  relief  to  its  nobler  features.  At  any  rate,  they 
are  human,  and  bring  us  into  sympathy  with  a  man,  as 
much  as  his  virtues ;  while  they  show  us  also,  that  those 
virtues,  like  our  own,  were  nurtured  in  the  school  of  diffi- 
culty and  temptation,  trained  in  battle,  and  are  all  of  them 
victories.  And  that  Cotton  Mather  can  bear  his  faults,  if  he 
is  looked  at  as  every  man  should  be,  is  what  I  think  can  be 
fairly  proved ;  and  it  is  all  I  wish  to  prove.  Nevertheless, 
I  must  confess,  that,  even  before  I  had  studied  Cotton 
Mather  in  his  own  writings  and  acts,  separately  from  the 
coloring  of  modern  biographers  and  the  attitude  in  which 
historians  had  placed  him,  a  suspicion  had  long  haunted 
me,  that  his  faults  had  been  unintentionally  exaggerated. 
There  is  something  in  the  heart  that  warns  us  to  be  wary 
of  wholesale  censure,  to  look  behind  stereotyped  terms  of 
reproach,  and  not  to  take  ignominious  brands  as  unques- 
tionable proofs  of  guilt.  If  the  fact  of  having  obeyed  this 
voice  beforehand  is  to  be  regarded  a  prejudice  that  must 


THE    SECOND    CHURCH.  71 

needs  vitiate  the  justice  of  a  biographical  sketch,  though  I 
must  regret  the  penalty,  I  cannot  deny  the  weakness. 

The  faults  of  Cotton  Mather,  as  has  been  hinted, 
are  conspicuous  and  weU  known,  —  too  conspicuous,  I 
think,  in  the  usual  regard  and  general  representation 
of  him.  They  are  precisely  such  as  are  calculated  to 
provoke  dislike  and  excite  prejudice,  though,  essentially, 
not  so  criminal  as  some  which  would  be  less  impatiently 
judged.  If,  indeed,  they  were  more  positive  and  substantial 
than  his  virtues ;  if  they  involved  malice  ;  if  they  indicated 
a  bad  heart;  if  they  were  really  the  stronger  and  deeper 
marks  of  the  man ;  if  they  were  the  rule  of  his  life,  and 
not  the  exception,  —  then  justice  might  demand,  and 
nature  would  allow,  such  a  forward  presentation  of  them 
as  would  not  only  overtop  his  virtues,  but  cast  over  his 
whole  moral  countenance  that  dark  shade  which  is  the 
righteous  stigma  of  the  unworthy.  But  it  is  not  so. 
Precisely  the  opposite  is  true  of  him.  His  virtues  are  in 
nature  far  rnore  prominent  and  striking  than  his  faults. 
The  latter  are  more  accidental  and  occasional ;  the  former, 
more  constant  and  permanent.  The  one  seem  to  have 
been  rather  temporary  waverings  from  the  real  point  of  his 
life's  aim,  like  the  oscillations  of  the  disturbed  needle ; 
while  the  other  evidently  mark  the  true  line  of  his  earlier 
and  later  aspirations,  principles,  and  efforts.  With  such 
convictions,  —  though  admitting  every  fault  that  can  justly 
be  charged  against  him,  and  intending  to  bring  them  all 
into  distinct  notice  in  the  proper  time  and  order, —  I  would 
first  present  his  character  to  you,  as  it  presents  itself  to  me, 
in  the  light  of  its  virtues. 


72  HISTORY     OF 

In  the  first  place,  he  wore  no  disguise.  There  is  hardly 
a  character  in  history  that  had  so  little  concealment. 
What  he  felt  he  uttered.  What  he  thought  he  said.  With 
too  much  freedom,  it  may  be  considered ;  imprudently,  you 
may  say ;  with  undue  heat  often.  No  matter :  he  wore  no 
disguise  over  his  failings.  Men  saw  and  heard  the  worst 
of  him,  and  the  whole  of  the  worst.  He  had  no  tact  to 
conceal  his  faults.  If  he  had  been  more  cunning,  he  would 
have  passed  for  a  much  better  man ;  but  whether  he  would 
have  been  any  better,  you  can  judge.  If  he  had  had  a  lit- 
tle more  caution,  he  might  have  kept  all  his  worst  feelings, 
and  nobody  been  the  wiser  for  it;  might  have  been  a  good 
deal  more  unworthy,  and  met  a  far  milder  judgment. 
With  a  trifle  more  tact,  he  would  have  saved  himself  much 
ridicule  and  a  multitude  of  enemies,  though  he  would 
really  have  been  not  a  whit  more  respectable  or  amiable. 
This  is  something :  it  is  a  good  deal.  If  you  are  sure  you 
see  the  worst  of  a  man,  you  can  have  confidence  in  all  that 
appears  good  in  him.  You  can  pardon  the  more  to  a  per- 
son in  whom  you  know  how  much  you  have  to  pardon. 

Pass  next  to  his  industry.  It  was  immense,  almost  un- 
paralleled. You  may  say  it  was  in  some  respects  mis- 
directed ;  that  much  of  it  was  wasted  upon  acquirements 
which  were  valueless,  and  learning  that  was  but  trash.  Be 
it  so.  But  he  worked,  —  worked  as  hard  and  as  much  as 
any  man  that  ever  lived.  He  seized  and  used  every 
minute  with  wonderful  method  and  energy.  And  he  did 
this  conscientiously.  He  was  industrious  from  principle. 
He  thought  that  the  learning  he  amassed  and  the  attain- 
ments after  which  he  toiled  were  desirable  and  important ; 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  73 

and  he  sincerely  intended  to  turn  them  to  account,  to  enrich 
his  sermons,  and  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.  And 
the  men  of  his  own  age  thought  as  he  did,  or  they  would 
not  so  generally  have  applauded,  almost  envied,  him  as  a 
prodigy  of  erudition. 

But  all  his  industry  was  not  spent  in  heaping  up  know- 
ledge, and  writing  many  books.  It  was  employed,  to  an 
extent  that  seems  hardly  consistent  with  so  much  study,  in 
plans  and  acts  of  usefulness. 

And  here  another  distinguished  virtue  comes  before  us, 
in  connection  with  his  diligence,  —  his  earnest  desire  and 
constant  purpose  to  do  good.  It  seems  to  have  been  one  of 
his  earliest  motives,  his  ruling  aim  from  childhood,  to  do  all 
the  good,  and  every  kind  of  good,  in  his  power.  That  a 
deep  sense  of  this  obligation  impressed  and  governed  him 
in  boyhood  needs  no  better  proof  than  the  fact,  that,  while 
pursuing  his  own  studies  at  home,  he  spent  a  considerable 
part  of  every  day  in  instructing,  not  only  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  but  the  domestics  also ;  while  his  sedulous  watch- 
fulness of  the  wants  of  those  around  him,  and  his  ingenious 
alacrity  in  rendering  to  them  every  trifling  service  in  his 
power,  were  proverbial  in  the  family.  This  purpose  and 
habit  followed  him  through  life,  and  rather  strengthened 
with  his  age. 

One  of  his  best  books,  —  a  book  to  the  remarkable 
value  of  which  we  have  the  testimony  of  a  man  whose 
sound  judgment  and  keen  discrimination  make  his  opinion 
an  authority;  I  allude  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  who  said 
that  he  attributed  to  that  book  all  his  usefulness  and  emi- 
nence, —  the  "  Essays  to  do  Good,"  evidently  grew  out  of 
10 


74  HISTORY     OF 

his  own  life.  Its  valuable  maxims  and  principles  were 
wrought  out  of  his  own  experience,  and  illustrated  in  his 
own  habits.  In  the  Essays  he  says,  "  There  is  a  scorbutic 
and  spontaneous  lassitude  in  the  minds  of  men,  which, 
while  it  sometimes  prevents  their  being  active  in  evil,  is 
also  the  cause  of  their  doing  so  little  good."  The  object 
of  the  book  is  to  counteract  this  propensity  to  indolence  by 
suggesting  motives  to  action,  reasons  for  exertion,  and 
methods  of  usefulness.  No  man  can  read  the  book  with- 
out benefit,  without  being  stirred  to  increased  diligence, 
and  supplied  with  hints  that  will  be  of  constant  service  to 
him  in  his  self-discipline.  He  seems  to  have  looked  for- 
ward with  "  a  prophetic  anticipation  "  to  an  age  of  intense 
activity,  whose  description,  as  he  has  given  it  in  his  pecu- 
liar style,  answers  very  aptly  to  the  present :  "  A  vast  variety 
of  new  ways  to  do  good  will  be  hit  upon ;  paths  which  no 
fowl  (of  the  best  flight  at  noble  designs)  has  yet  known, 
and  which  the  vulture's  most  piercing  eye  hath  not 
seen,  and  where  lions  of  the  strongest  resolution  have  not 
passed."  He  suggests,  moreover,  the  expediency  of  resort- 
ing to  the  principle  of  association,  in  order  to  accomplish  by 
the  authority  and  force  of  numbers  what  individuals  are 
unable  to  do.  "  There  is  reason  to  think  that  this  sugges- 
tion, though  not  new,  was  adopted  to  some  extent  in  con- 
sequence of  his  recommendation  ;  and  thus  was  established 
the  system  which  now  operates  throughout  the  country."  * 

A  curious  instance  of  his  ingenuity  in  plans  of  doing 
good  is  worth  noticing  in  this  connection.     He  had  heard 

*  Rev.  W.  B.  O.  Peabody  :   "  Life  of  Cotton  Mather." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  •  75 

that  in  the  town  of  Salem  there  was  a  large  number  of 
poor  and  bad  people,  who  were  notorious  for  misspending 
the  sabbath.  In  order  to  reach  them,  and  if  possible  bring 
them  to  church,  he  hit  upon  an  expedient  that  shows  as 
much  knowledge  of  human  nature  as  goodness  of  heart. 
Having  wrapped  up  seven  small  parcels  of  money,  attached 
to  seven  tracts  on  "  Repentance,"  and  seven  also  on  "  Keep- 
ing the  Sabbath,"  he  sent  the  packages,  with  an  anonymous 
letter,  to  the  minister  of  that  place,  desiring  him  to  distri- 
bute the  charity  in  his  own  name ;  that  so,  perchance,  the 
pastor  might  ingratiate  himself  with  his  straying  people, 
and,  by  awakening  their  good  feelings  towards  himself  per- 
sonally, draw  them  to  public  worship.  A  better  conceived 
plan,  acting  in  so  many  ways  at  the  same  time,  and  all 
converging  to  one  result,  could  not  easily  be  found. 

There  is  hardly  a  branch  of  philanthropic  enterprise,  into 
which  his  interest  and  exertions  did  not  spread.  Nor  did 
he  wait  for  others  to  take  the  lead,  or  show  him  objects  of 
charity,  but  with  quick  sympathy  discovered  the  wants 
and  sufferings  of  all  classes  of  men,  with  ready  ingenuity 
devised  plans  of  relief,  and  with  characteristic  zeal  carried 
them  into  operation  himself,  often  with  much  expense  and 
labor,  without  waiting  for  assistance  from  others.  Most  of 
the  reformatory  and  benevolent  movements  which  have 
signalized  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  were  anticipated 
by  him.  He  was  a  strenuous  advocate  of  Temperance^  by 
example  as  well  as  precept.  He  wrote  and  published 
much  on  the  subject,  with  learning  and  ability,  and  not 
altogether  without  effect  in  staying  the  alarming  progress 
of  one  of  the  most  prevalent  vices  of  his  times.     He  was 


76  •  HISTOKY     OF 

deeply  interested  on  behalf  of  Seamen.  To  the  moral  ex- 
posures and  hardships  of  this  interesting  class,  he  frequently 
called  the  attention  of  others ;  while  he  spared  no  exertion 
on  his  own  part  to  ameliorate  and  elevate  their  condition. 
Of  the  claims  of  Women,  for  whose  sex  he  seems  to  have 
had  a  high  respect,  he  was  an  earnest  advocate ;  and  to 
raise  the  standard  of  female  character  and  education  was 
one  of  his  favorite  objects.  His  treatment  of  the  Slaves 
then  held  in  New  England,  and  his  devotion  to  the  tem- 
poral and  religious  iinprovement  of  the  African  race,  are 
among  the  brightest  points  of  his  benevolent  character. 
Perceiving  that  the  slaves  in  Boston  were  destitute  of  the 
advantages  of  education,  and  finding  that  their  ignorance 
was  a  bar  to  their  religious  progress,  he  established  a  school 
for  their  instruction,  and  bore  the  whole  expense  of  it  him- 
self, paying  the  teacher  for  her  services  at  the  close  of  every 
week.  In  addition  to  this,  he  had  deeply  at  heart  the 
Christianization  of  Negroes  abroad  as  well  as  at  home,  and, 
besides  incidental  attempts  to  call  attention  to  the  subject, 
prepared  a  work  upon  it,  with  his  best  diligence,  expressly 
for  circulation  in  the  West  Indies,  as  well  as  in  America. 
The  noble  stand  he  took  for  the  introduction  of  Inoculation 
for  the  small-pox,  against  the  powerful  and  universal  preju- 
dice of  the  people,  and  even  of  the  most  eminent  physi- 
cians,* and  the  enmity  and  obloquy  it  cost  him,  should 

*  With  a  single  exception,  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston.  The  rage  of  the  peo- 
ple was  so  fierce  against  Cotton  Mather  that  he  was  in  danger  of  his  life. 
Every  possible  threat  was  made  to  intimidate  him ;  and  the  physicians,  and 
many  of  the  first  men,  together  with  the  mob,  assailed  and  reviled  him. 
But  he  never  faltered.  A  hand-grenade  was  actually  thrown,  in  the  night, 
into  the  chamber  where   he   usually  slept,  but   fortunately,   as   it   passed 


THE     SECOND     CHUKCH.  77 

never  be  forgot.  Especially  at  the  present  hour  should  the 
honor  of  this  great  service  be  acknowledged,  and  all  due 
praise  be  awarded  to  Cotton  Mather,  when  the  tardy  justice 
of  nations  is  at  length  stimulated  to  rear  a  deserved  monu- 
ment to  the  name  of  the  great  benefactor  to  whom  the 
world  is  indebted  for  a  still  better  antidote  to  one  of  its 
worst  miseries.* 

Association  for  Christian  Missions  to  the  heathen  was 
another  of  his  favorite  objects ;  though  he  says  with  mvich 
point,  that,  till  the  church  is  purified  at  home,  there  wUl  be 
no  gathering  of  the  nations  into  it ;  and  that  many  persons 
active  in  missionary  operations  "  will  be  more  intent  upon 
propagating  their  own  little  forms,  fancies,  and  interests,  than 
the  more  weighty  matters  of  the  gospel."  He  proposes  also 
Bible  Societies,  for  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  and 
other  holy  books,  and  for  their  translation  into  the  various 
languages  of  the  world.f  And  he  still  further  advises  the 
formation  of  Tradesmen's  Libraries,  and  associations  for 
moral  and  religious  improvement  among  young  men. 
This  enumeration  |  of  the  various  philanthropic  plans 
which  not  only  excited  his  interest,  but  actually  originated 

through  the  window,  had  its  fusee  broken  off.  The  clergymen  of  Eoston 
alone  took  his  part,  and,  to  their  honor  be  it  said,  followed  his  example  in 
advocating  the  unpopular  but  invaluable  innovation. 

*  A  subscription  is  about  being  made  for  a  monument  to  Dr.  Jenner. 

t  We  are  told  that  he  made  himself  master  of  French  and  Spanish,  so 
that  he  might  write  treatises  in  those  languages ;  and,  in  his  forty-fifth  year, 
"  conquered  the  Iroquois  Indian,"  in  which  he  actually  published  works  for 
the  instruction  of  the  natives. 

X  I  might  have  swelled  the  list.  I  have  not  mentioned  his  attempts  to 
organize  a  Peace  Society ;  an  association  for  Building  Churches  in  Destitute 
Places,  and  for  the  Relief  of  Poor  Ministers ;  nor  the  establishment  by  him 
of  Charity  Schools  ;  nor  his  Distribution  of  Books  in  immense  numbers. 


78  HISTORY     OF 

in  his  own  active  and  fruitful  mind,  affords  abundant  evi- 
dence no  less  of  extraordinary  genius  for  practical  benevo- 
lence than  of  a  sympathetic  and  generous  disposition. 

Nor  did  his  benevolence  become  weak  by  diffusiveness, 
or  expend  itself  in  extensive  efforts.  No  individual  case  of 
poverty  or  suffering  within  his  reach  escaped  his  notice,  or 
failed  of  receiving  personal  care.  One  day  in  every  week 
was  set  apart  particularly  to  the  consideration  of  the  ques- 
tion, "  What  special  subjects  of  affliction  and  objects  of  com- 
passion may  I  take  under  my  particular  care  ?  and  what  shall 
I  do  for  them  ?  "  A  catalogue  was  then  prepared  of  all  the 
poor  in  his  flock,  or  in  the  town,  whom  he  knew,  together 
with  all  the  miserable,  the  victims  of  vice,  and  those  w^ho 
were  out  of  employment.  This  "  List  of  the  Miserables,"  as 
he  called  it,  was  generally  kept  about  him,  and,  by  being 
occasionally  referred  to  in  his  visits,  afforded  him  oppor- 
tunities to  introduce  any  particular  case  to  the  attention 
and  sympathy  of  his  parishioners,  and  thus  to  procure  a 
recruit  either  of  alms  or  almoners,  or  both,  to  assist  him  in 
his  charities. 

Of  such  a  man  it  may  indeed  be  said  with  truth,  in  the 
language  of  one  who  knew  him  well,  "  The  ambition  and 
character  of  his  life  was  serviceableness."  The  tree  that 
bears  such  crowded  and  broad-spreading  branches,  sprin- 
kled with  the  blossoms  of  kindness,  and  bending  with  the 
fruits  of  charity,  cannot  but  be  known,  however  rough  its 
trunk  and  irregular  its  outline,  as  having  its  root  and  invi- 
goration  in  the  rich  soil  of  love.* 

*  The  emblem  on  Cotton  Mather's  signet-ring  was  a  tree,  with  the 
motto,  from  Psalm  i.  3,  "He  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  79 

The  utter  absence  of  avarice  was  a  noble  distinction  of 
Cotton  Mather ;  and  not  less  so  the  fact,  that  he  never 
spared  himself,  when  an  opportunity  offered,  to  do  any  thing 
for  another's  good,  —  that  self-indulgence  was  totally  un- 
known to  him.  Another  admirable  ti'ait,  which  no  one  can 
deny  to  him,  is  moral  courage.  It  manifested  itself,  in  his 
boyhood,  in  open  resistance  and  rebuke  of  whatever  he 
esteemed  unjust  or  immoral  in  his  companions.  It  is  con- 
spicuous, throughout  his  life,  in  his  never  having  shrunk 
from  uttering  what  he  believed  to  be  true,  or  doing  what 
he  thought  to  be  right,  because  of  the  ridicule  to  which  it 
would  expose  him,  or  the  unpopularity  it  would  provoke. 
It  was  displayed  on  several  occasions  of  public  excitement, 
in  the  stand  he  took  to  resist  oppressive  rulers  on  the  one 
hand,  or  to  quell  the  turbulence  of  the  populace  on  the 
other.  But  never  was  it  more  severely  tested  or  more 
honorably  proved  than  in  his  efforts  to  introduce  inocula- 
tion, to  which  I  have  already  referi'ed. 

That  he  was  a  man  of  a  devout  spirit  and  a  religious 
character  has  never,  I  believe,  been  questioned.  The  tone 
of  his  piety  has  been  objected  to,  but  not  his  piety  itself. 
His  religious  exercises  may  not  always  meet  with  approba- 
tion ;  but  his  religious  affections  and  principles  can  be  dis- 
credited only  after  the  largest  portion  of  the  facts  of  his 
biography  shaU  have  been  expunged. 

water,  that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in  his  season :  his  leaf  also  shall  not 
wither."  This  was  the  ceremonial  ring  of  his  Doctorate  of  Divinity ;  the 
honor  of  which  degree  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  Glas- 
gow, A.D.  1710.  On  the  scroll  was  the  Latin  sentence,  Glascua  rigavit, — 
"  Glasgow  watered  it."  We  are  told  that  it  was  his  habit,  when  looking  at 
this  ring,  to  pray  that  God  would  make  him  a  very  fruitful  tree. 


80  HISTORY     OF 

In  his  relations  to  the  Second  Church,  we  are  bound  to 
speak  of  him  with  unqualified  praise  ;  for  slander  itself, 
with  all  its  boldness,  has  not  ventured  to  cast  a  reproach 
upon  the  sincerity  of  his  pastoral  affection,  or  the  fidelity 
of  his  ministerial  service. 

Another  province  of  his  life  also  calumny  has  not  violated. 
In  the  domestic  relations,  his  character  shines  with  a  mild 
and  beautiful  lustre.  The  mutual  attachment  between 
him  and  his  father,  in  particular,  cannot  be  contemplated 
without  a  delightful  interest.  Whatever  the  son  may  have 
been  to  others,  to  his  parent  he  was  always  respectful  and 
tender  and  amiable.  His  veneration  for  him  was  almost 
unbounded ;  his  love  to  him  through  life  was  as  warm  as  a 
boy's.  His  indignation  took  fire  at  a  whisper  against  his 
fame ;  and  his  heart  leaped  with  joy  at  every  mark  of  re- 
spect that  was  conferred  upon  him.  And  the  manifesta- 
tions on  the  father's  part  are  no  less  constant  and  sincere. 
He  evidently  looked  upon  his  son  with  admiration  as  well 
as  love,  and  reposed  in  him  with  perfect  confidence.  His 
treatment  of  him  through  life  and  in  death,  and  the  terms 
in  which  he  speaks  of  him  in  his  last  testament,  are,  from 
such  a  man,  no  shght  testimonials  to  his  worth.  They 
were  united  in  the  closest  intimacy;  their  studies  were 
similar ;  their  profession  the  same ;  their  charge  one ;  their 
earthly  and  their  heavenly  interests  inseparable.  Their 
voices  alternated  or  blended  in  the  worship  of  the  church, 
and  mingled  often  in  private  devotion.  They  were  never 
happier  than  when  together,  and  never  more  constantly 
and  closely  together  than  when  the  hour  of  their  separation 
drew  nigh.      The  son,  though  himself  an  old  man,  could 


THE     SECOND     CHUKCH.  81 

not  let  his  father  go,  till  he  had  reverently  gathered  all  the 
last  fruits  of  his  wisdom,  and  heard  yet  again  the  counsels 
of  his  love ;  while  the  father  was  not  content  to  have  his 
son  long  absent  from  his  sight,  and  evidently  felt  it  a  com- 
fort to  die  on  his  bosom.* — (See  Appendix  D.) 

Cotton  Mather  was  also  one  of  the  kindest  of  fathers. 
It  is  the  testimony  of  one  of  his  sons,  that  he  was  not,  like 
many  parents  of  that  day,  of  an  austere  carriage  towards 
his  children,  "  nor  kept  himself  at  an  haughty  distance  from 
them,  but  invariably  condescended  to  them  with  a  gentle 
and  proper  familiarity.  Thus,"  he  adds,  "  he  would  instruct 
and  edify,  thus  alliu'e  and  charm  us ;  thus  make  us  love  his 
society,  ever  come  into  it  with  delight,  and  never  leave  it 
but  with  sorrow."  The  same  attractions  of  manner  and 
conversation  seem  to  have  characterized  him  in  social 
intercourse.  It  is  evidently  a  mistake  to  suppose,  as  some 
have  done,  that  he  was  generally  crabbed,  morose,  and  irri- 
table, and  not  fitted  for  an  agreeable  companion.     On  the 

*  The  paragraph  in  the  "  Last  Will,"  to  which  reference  was  made 
above,  is  in  the  following  terms :  "  Concerning  my  son,  Cotton  Mather,  he 
has  bin  a  great  comfort  to  me  from  his  childhood,  having  bin  a  very  dutiful 
son,  and  a  singular  blessing  to  his  father's  family  and  flock.  If  I  had  any 
considerable  estate,  I  ought  to  bequeath  the  greatest  part  of  it  to  him.  It 
has  bin  thot  that  I  have  bags  by  me,  which  is  a  great  mistake.  I  have  not 
twenty  pounds  in  silver  or  in  bills.  But  whatever  I  have,  be  it  more  or  less, 
whether  in  silver  or  bills,  I  give  it  to  him,  my  eldest  son.  Item,  I  give  to 
him  my  pendulum-watch ;  item,  my  pendulum-clock ;  item,  my  silver  tan- 
kard ;  and  I  bequeath  to  him  all  my  manuscripts,  and  the  one- half  of  my 
library." 

The  will  itself,  which  was  never  recorded,  was  found  on  file,  and  a  copy 
furnished  to  me  by  my  friend.  Dr.  Shurtleff.  It  is  an  interesting  document, 
marked  by  the  dignity,  seriousness,  and  kindness  which  belonged  to  the 
author.  It  has  seemed  to  me  so  characteristic  of  the  man,  that  I  have 
inserted  it  entire  in  an  Appendix. 
11 


82  HISTORY     OF 

contrary,  none  could  be  more  sociable  and  entertaining. 
Better  authority  on  this  point  could  not  be  desired  than 
that  of  Mr.  Colman,  of  the  Brattle-street  Church ;  who,  if 
any  one,  would  have  been  likely,  during  a  long  and  some- 
times trying  intercourse,  to  have  had  full  experience  of  the 
opposite  qualities,  if  they  had  been  prominent  and  habitual. 
I  may  be  pardoned,  therefore,  for  quoting  at  length,  from  a 
sermon  preached  by  that  eminent  divine  at  the  Thursday 
Lecture,  a  somewhat  striking  passage,  descriptive  of  the 
traits  to  which  I  have  referred:  — "  His  printed  works  will 
not  convey  to  posterity,  nor  give  to  strangers,  a  just  idea  of 
the  real  worth  and  great  learning  of  the  man.  They  will, 
indeed,  inform  all  that  read  them,  of  his  great  knowledge 
and  singular  piety,  his  zeal  for  God  and  holiness  and  truth, 
and  his  desire  of  the  salvation  of  precious  souls ;  but  it 
was  conversation.,  and  acquaintance  with  him  in  his  fami- 
liar and  occasional  discourses  and  private  communications, 
that  discovered  the  vast  compass  of  his  knowledge  and  the 
projections  of  his  piety,  more,  I  have  sometimes  thought, 
than  all  his  pulpit  exercises.  Here  he  excelled;  here  he 
shone,  —  being  exceedingly  communicative,  and  bringing 
out  of  his  treasures  things  new  and  old  without  measure. 
Here  it  was  seen  how  his  wit  and  fancy,  his  invention,  his 
quickness  of  thought  and  ready  apprehension,  were  all  con- 
secrated to  God,  as  well  as  his  heart,  will,  and  affections ; 
and,  out  of  his  abundance  within,  his  lips  overflowed, 
dropped  as  the  honeycomb,  fed  all  that  came  near  him,  and 
were  as  the  choice  silver  for  richness  and  brightness,  plea- 
sure and  profit."      The  well-known  warning  to  visitors,* 

*  "  Be  short." 


THE    SECOND     CHURCH.  83 

inscribed  upon  his  study-door,  might  be  construed  into  an 
unsocial  hint  as  well  as  an  admonition  of  the  value  of  time, 
were  it  not  a  well-authenticated  fact,  that  all  who  knocked 
were  readily  admitted,  and,  when  once  within,  found  the 
occupant  so  entertaining  and  talkative,  that  he  himself 
made  it  as  difficult  for  them  to  obey  the  motto  as  it  was 
agreeable  to  themselves  to  disregard  it. 

His  views  and  mode  of  education  and  discipline  were 
as  judicious  as  they  were  in  advance  of  his  age.  "  He 
believed  that  children  were  alive  to  principles  of  reason 
and  honor  at  a  much  earlier  period  of  life  than  is  generally 
supposed.  He  endeavored,  first  of  all,  to  convince  his  own 
children  of  his  affection,  and  in  that  way  to  lead  them  to 
the  belief  that  to  follow  his  judgment  was  the  best  way 
to  secure  their  own  good.  He  impressed  upon  them,  that 
it  was  shameful  to  do  wrong ;  and,  when  one  of  them  had 
offended,  his  first  punishment  was  to  express  his  astonish- 
ment that  the  child  could  do  any  thing  so  unworthy. 
Removal  from  his  presence  was  his  ordinary  punishment ; 
and  it  was  only  in  extreme  and  peculiar  cases  that  he  ever 
inflicted  a  blow.  He  rewarded  obedience  by  teaching 
them  some  curious  piece  of  knowledge,  which  he  had 
always  at  command ;  and  thus,  beside  giving  the  imme- 
diate recompense  of  good  conduct,  he  conveyed  the  impres- 
sion, that  to  gain  instruction  was  not  a  hardship,  but  a 
privilege  and  reward.  If  they  deserved  censure,  he  would 
forbid  their  reading  and  writing ;  a  prohibition  which  was 
strongly  associated  in  their  minds  with  degradation.  He 
early  led  their  minds  to  rehgious  thoughts  and  contempla- 
tions, giving  them  views  which  were  as  solemn  as  possible, 


84         '  HISTORY     OF 

but  taking  care  to  make  them  sensible  of  the  goodness  of 
God.  He  often  told  them  of  the  good  angels,  whose  office 
it  was  to  protect  them,  and  who  ought  never  to  be  offended 
by  misconduct  or  neglect ;  but  he  would  not  say  much  to 
them  about  the  evil  angels,  because  he  would  not  have 
them  entertain  any  frightful  fancies."  * 

To  this  list  of  virtues  might  be  added  purity  of  life, 
unstained,  so  far  as  is  known,  or  even  suspected,  by  a  sin- 
gle blot ;  subjection  of  the  appetites,  even  to  their  mortifi- 
cation ;  systematic  self-regulation,  in  conformity  to  rules 
which  he  conscientiously  believed  to  be  of  divine  sanction ; 
love  of  "  the  just  liberties  of  mankind,f  —  for  this  also  may 
be  ranked  with  the  virtues,  having  its  root  and  issue  in  jus- 
tice;—  and  a  firm  and  faithful  patriotism,  which,  if  not  one 
of  the  sacred  sisterhood,  consorts  with  that  high  company. 

Moreover,  if  the  closing  hours  of  life  are  ever  a  touch- 
stone of  character,  —  and  no  man  should  be  judged  till  he 
has  passed  through  them,  —  Cotton  Mather  bore  that  test 
well,  and  under  circumstances  peculiarly  favorable  for  its 
application.  For  his  intellect  was  not  affected  by  disease ;  it 
was  impossible  that  he  could  cheat  himself  with  any  hope 
of  recovery ;  he  knew  that  eternity  was  close  at  hand ;  and 
yet  there  was  not  such  suddenness  or  hurry  of  preparation 
as  to  produce  excitement,  or  prevent  his  true  inward  condi- 
tion from  being  seen.     And  with  regard  to  that  condition, 

*  Life  of  Cotton  Mather,  by  his  Son. 

t  His  hatred  of  oppression  manifested  itself  by  indubitable  signs.  He 
■was  very  bold  to  rebuke  injustice  in  magistrates  and  great  men.  "  I  declare," 
he  says,  "for  the  just  liberties  of  mankind,  "with  a  free  indulgence  of  civil 
rights  in  the  state." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  85 

and  the  entire  truthfulness  of  his  feelings,  no  man  who 
examines  his  death-scene,  ever  so  critically,  can  entertain  a 
doubt,  —  there  is  no  room  for  doubt.  Perfectly  resigned 
and  collected,  sustained  by  "  a  strong  consolation,"  declar- 
ing that  "  every  thing  looked  smiling  about  him,"  full  of 
hope  without  elation,  and  of  longing  without  impatience, 
he  awaited  his  last  hour.  "  And  now,  vain  world,  farewell  I 
Thou  hast  been  to  me  an  uneasy  wilderness.  Welcome, 
everlasting  life !  The  best  hour  that  ever  I  saw  is  that  for 
which  I  am  gladly  waiting.  The  paradise  of  God  stands 
open  to  me.  Covered  with  Christ's  righteousness,  brighter 
than  an  angel's  drapery,  I  will  go  in  at  those  golden  gates ; 
for  I  have  something  to  do  within.  I  will  go  in,  and  praise 
the  Lord.  It  is  what  I  have  begun  to  do ;  and  his  praise 
endureth  for  ever.  Never,  never  shall  I  give  over  the  doing 
of  it."  His  desire  of  being  useful  was  strong  in  death. 
His  own  great  need  did  not  withdraw  his  thoughts  from 
others'  good.  With  all  his  remaining  energies  he  labored 
to  impart  instruction  to  all  who  came  near  him,  and  to 
stamp  upon  their  minds  sacred  and  enduring  impressions. 
He  wished,  above  all  things,  to  glorify  his  heavenly  Father 
by  bringing  forth  fruit  even  on  the  bed  of  death.  When 
his  son,  and  afterwards  his  successor  in  this  church,  on  the 
sabbath  before  he  died,  leaning  over  him  to  catch  his  last 
counsels,  asked  what  single  word  or  sentence,  of  condensed 
wisdom,  he  could  give  him,  as  the  most  precious  keepsake, 
to  carry  about  always,  in  remembrance  of  his  father  and  for 
his  own  guidance,  the  instant  and  earnest  response  was  the 
single  but  talismanic  word  "  fruitful."  His  heart  was 
full  of  affection  towards  all,  and  his  mouth  overflowed  with 


86  HISTORY     OF 

blessings.  "  All  delusions  faded  "  from  his  mind,  aU 
infirmities  fell  off  from  his  spirit,  "  as  he  drew  near  to  the 
grave."  He  seemed  to  lay  aside  his  foibles  with  his 
pilgrim-cloak,  as  if  they  had  been  but  superficial  stains. 
The  clouds  that  sometimes  obscured  his  sky  melted  away 
as  his  sun  went  down ;  and  its  setting  was  in  mild  glory. 
The  beautiful  sentence  of  holy  writ  which  he  often  repeated 
at  the  last  was  strikingly  fulfilled  in  himself :  "  It  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  at  evening-time  it  shall  be  light."  * 

And  now,  can  this  person,  with  such  virtues,  with  such 
aims,  whose  life  was  devoted  to  such  objects  and  crowned 
with  such  an  end,  have  been  other  than  an  essentially 
righteous  and  intrinsically  good  man  ?  It  is  impossible  to 
find  any  key  to  the  interpretation  of  his  history,  any  expla- 
nation of  the  main  and  constant  facts  of  his  life,  any  har- 
mony between  his  works  and  his  motives,  any  congruity 
between  his  line  of  conduct  and  his  line  of  purpose,  except 
on  the  principle  that  he  w^as  really  conscientious,  benevo- 
lent, and  devout. 

But,  if  this  be  a  true  verdict,  it  will  not  be  overthrown, 
but  rather  confirmed,  by  an  examination  of  his  faults.     For 


*  He  died  the  thirteenth  of  February,  1728,  the  day  after  his  sixty- 
fifth  birth-day.  It  surprises  me  that  so  accurate  a  writer  as  Mr.  Peabody, 
in  his  biographical  article  in  "  Sparks's  American  Biography,"  should  have 
said,  "His  son,  in  accordance  with  the  principle  on  which  his  fatlier's  'Life' 
is  written,  —  to  withhold  all  such  information  as  might  interest  the  reader, 
—  does  not  say  ichat  the  disorder  was."  He  states  expressly,  that  "  he  died 
of  an  hard  cough  with  a  suffocating  asthma,  with  a  fever."  "With  all  the 
love  and  respect  I  cherish  for  my  lamented  friend  and  brother,  I  feel  con- 
strained to  say,  that  he  has  treated  the  "  Life  of  Cotton  Mather,  by  his  Son," 
too  severely.  Tliat  "  Life  "  gives  a  very  fair  picture  of  his  father,  —  which 
is  its  principal  object,  —  without  showing  much  genius  or  ability. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  87 

not  only  is  the  preponderance  of  a  good  man's  virtues 
made  manifest  by  weighing  them  against  his  faults,  but 
his  virtues  are  to  some  extent  illustrated  by  his  faults  ; 
while  his  faults,  on  the  other  hand,  are  in  some  degree 
explained  and  lightened  by  his  virtues.  He  might  not  have 
had  certain  faults,  if  he  had  not  possessed  in  a  high  mea- 
sm-e  certain  virtues ;  and,  but  for  the  eminence  of  certain 
virtues,  certain  faults  would  have  looked  far  more  diminu- 
tive, or  might  have  altogether  escaped  notice. 

On  turning  our  attention  to  the  shaded  side  of  Cotton 
Mather's  character,  the  first  thing  that  gives  an  unfavorable 
impression  is  its  grotesqueness,  which  has  the  appearance 
of  affectation  and  vanity.  If  such  is  really  its  nature,  it 
certainly  deserves  ridicule,  and  is  open  to  censure.  But 
that  it  is  really  or  wholly  attributable  to  these  unworthy 
causes  is  not  to  be  taken  for  granted  without  investigation. 
For  singularity,  of  itself,  is  not  necessarily  a  fault,  nor 
always  an  affectation.  And  it  is  no  sure  evidence  of  its 
being  either,  that  it  seems  to  us  disagreeable  or  ridiculous. 
Some  men  are  singular  by  nature.  Some  are  so  from  a 
disproportionate  development  in  a  particular  direction,  ow- 
ing to  a  strong  original  bias,  or  some  accidental  pressure 
early  and  long  applied.  Every  person  appears  eccentric  to 
us  whom  we  do  not  understand ;  though,  if  we  were  more 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  him,  or  less  exclusive  in  our 
opinions  and  limited  in  our  judgment,  we  might  be  able  to 
trace  his  peculiarities  to  some  high  law,  and  discover  that 
justification  of  them  which  is  apparent  to  himself.  The 
singularity  which  we  see  in  Cotton  Mather,  so  far  as  I  can 
understand  it,  is  to  be  attributed,  partly  to  his  nature ;  partly 


88  HISTORY     OF 

to  circumstances  and  education ;  partly  to  the  complexity 
and  variety  of  his  character  and  the  exuberance  of  his  en- 
deavors and  acquisitions,  which  render  him  unintelligible 
to  us,  and  probably  also  to  himself;  and  partly,  no  doubt, 
to  vanity.  For  that  vanity  was  one  of  his  faults,  and  pro- 
bably the  most  prominent  of  them  all,  is  too  apparent  to 
be  denied. 

But  the  vanity  of  Cotton  Mather  is  as  peculiar  as  him- 
self, and  has  a  most  remarkable  history,  —  a  history  in 
which  we  may  find  abundant  instruction  for  ourselves,  if 
not  a  partial  justification  for  him.  Descended  from  a 
double  line  of  the  most  distinguished  clergymen  of  New 
England,  and  inheriting  the  name  of  both,  he  was  regarded 
from  infancy  with  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  the 
first  indication  of  the  qualities  of  his  nature  was  waited  for 
with  anxious  expectation.  A  strong  hope  was  cherished 
by  parents  and  friends,  that  he  might  prove  himself  wor- 
thy of  the  venerated  names  he  bore,  and  sustain,  through 
another  generation,  the  pure  fame  and  sacred  honors  which 
his  progenitors  had  so  long  enjoyed.  With  a  delight  they 
could  not  disguise,  and  a  gratitude  to  God  that  found 
indiscreet  expression  even  in  the  hearing  of  their  son,  they 
hailed  the  early  signs  of  unusual  promise  which  dawned 
upon  them  as  his  faculties  unfolded.  It  was  evident  that 
he  was  an  extraordinary  child.  He  was  treated  as  such 
from  his  cradle.  He  was  made  to  understand  it.  His 
mother  expressed  it  in  her  looks,  his  father  in  his  prayers, 
and  both  in  their  counsels  and  encouragements.  He  was 
taught  to  feel  how  much  depended  upon  him,  and  how 
much  was  expected  of  him.     He  must  set  his  mark  high, 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH,  89 

very  high.  Eminent  he  must  be, —  not,  certainly,  without 
virtue  and  piety,  —  but  eminent  in  these  also,  yes,  in  these 
especially.  licarned  he  must  be  too  ;  for  learning  had 
been  the  glory  of  his  fathers;  and  scholarship,  with  his 
mother  also,  and  his  grandmother,  had  been  coupled  with 
Christian  excellence,  in  their  intercessions  for  their  sons. 
The  boy  caught  the  desired  inspiration.  His  ambition 
took  fire  before  the  time.  He  had  a  rich  nature,  more  than 
ordinary  genius,  abundance  of  talent,  remarkable  energy, 
and  no  vicious  propensities ;  and,  with  such  endowments, 
had  he  been  allowed  to  come  forward  in  the  natural  way, 
and  not  been  early  subjected  to  undue  stimulus  and  a 
forced  culture,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  been,  though 
less  of  a  wonder,  a  greater  man.  And  what  is  more,  he 
would  not  have  been  inoculated  with  the  vanity  that  dis- 
turbed his  peace,  troubled  his  virtues,  and  has  tarnished  his 
fame. 

But,  unfortunately  for  him,  the  flame  that  had  been  kin- 
dled at  home  was  not,  as  is  often  the  case,  quenched  when 
he  came  in  contact  with  the  world,  and  passed  into  the 
care  of  less  partial  instructors.  At  school  he  was  treated 
as  a  prodigy;  and  he  ivas  a  prodigy,  for  he  entered  it 
with  the  ambition  of  a  man  stimulating  a  more  than 
boyish  intellect.  His  teachers,  rejoicing  in  such  a  willing 
pupil,  and  proud  of  the  rapidity  of  his  progress,  were  but 
too  ready  to  lend  their  aid  to  his  precocious  development. 
They  did  not  need  to  quicken,  and  they  had  neither  the 
wisdom  nor  the  self-denial  to  restrain  him.  By  his  twelfth 
year,  they  had  carried  him  through  the  most  difficult  Greek 
and  Latin  authors,  and  presented  him  for  admission  to  the 
12 


90  HISTORY     OF 

college,  already  more  learned  in  the  classics  than  most  who 
had  taken  their  degrees. 

And  here,  too,  as  if  all  the  world  were  in  league  against 
his  simplicity,  the  first  greeting  of  the  venerable  President 
was  in  terms  too  flattering  for  a  higher  measure  of  modesty 
and  discretion  than  is  within  the  compass  of  a  mere  boy,  to 
have  borne  without  injury.  If  the  account  of  his  college- 
life  that  has  come  down  to  us  is  true,  —  and  there  is  cer- 
tainly no  reason  to  discredit  it,  —  the  venerable  Presidents 
of  that  institution  cannot  be  held  guiltless  of  having  been 
accessory  to  his  vanity.  Dr.  Hoar,  in  whose  Presidency  the 
young  Mather  entered,  with  a  compliment  not  the  less  dan- 
gerous because  of  its  gracefulness,  borrowing  from  classic 
poetry  a  prophecy  of  his  future  celebrity,  likened  him  to 
the  young  Telemachus ;  giving  him  this  head  for  his  initial 
declamation :  — 

"  Telemacho  veniet,  vivat  modo,  fortior  setas." 

And  President  Oakes,  under  whom  he  graduated,  as  if  not 
to  be  outdone  by  his  predecessor,  honored  him,  in  his  Latin 
oration  at  commencement,  with  a  eulogy  that,  however 
merited,  no  considerations  can  justify  :  — 

"  Mather  is  named  Cotton  Mather.  What  a  name ! 
My  hearers,  I  mistake  :  I  ought  to  have  said  what  names ! 
I  shall  not  speak  of  his  father ;  for  I  dare  not  praise  him  to 
his  face."  —  Why  did  it  not  occur  to  him  that  it  would 
have  been  less  hazardous  and  improper  than  to  have  so 
praised  the  son?  —  "  But  should  he  resemble  his  venerable 
grandfathers,  John  Cotton  and  Richard  Mather,  in  piety, 
learning,  splendor  of  intellect,  solidity  of  judgment,  pru- 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  91 

dence,  and  wisdom,  he  will  indeed  bear  the  palm.  And  I 
have  confidence,  that,  in  this  young  man.  Cotton  and  Ma- 
ther will  be  united,  and  flourish  again." 

He  must  have  been  a  far  less  susceptible  and  obedient 
pupil  than  he  was,  if  his  vanity  had  not  developed  apace 
under  such  respected  tuition,  and  in  the  midst  of  such  fos- 
tering influences.  The  only  wonder  is,  that  he  was  not 
completely  ruined.  He  would  have  been  so,  but  for  his 
early  and  substantial  piety,  his  unusual  energy  and  per- 
severance, his  real  love  of  learning,  and  his  conscientious 
diligence.  Every  thing  was  done  to  spoil  him ;  and  that 
he  was  not  spoiled  is  an  honor  to  his  head  and  his  heart. 

His  early  tastes,  his  earnest  piety,  and  his  strong  sense 
of  religious  obligation,  though  they  could  not  avail  to  res- 
cue him  altogether  from  the  strong  influences  that  roused 
his  ambition,  were  powerful  enough  to  turn  that  ambition 
into  a  right  and  holy  direction.  Ambition  mingled,  indeed, 
with  his  religious  aspirations  ;  but  their  superior  power 
bore  it  along  with  themselves  in  their  own  upward  flight. 
They  could  not  divest  themselves  altogether  of  its  in- 
fluence ;  but  they  pressed  that  influence  into  their  own 
service.  And  this,  I  think,  is  the  true  explanation  of  all 
that  is  peculiar  and  faulty  in  his  religious  character.  He 
was  even  more  ambitious,  from  his  infancy,  of  the  very 
highest  attainments  and  experiences  of  piety,  than  of  emi- 
nence in  any  other  direction.  He  had  read  the  biographies 
of  the  most  distinguished  saints ;  and  he  longed  to  mount 
up  to  the  same  heights  of  holy  meditation  and  rapturous 
intercourse  with  heaven  to  which  they  had  soared.  His 
youthful  imagination  was  excited  by  the   history  of  their 


92  HISTORY     OF 

vigils  and  fasts  and  ascetic  enterprises ;  and  his  soul  was 
stirred  to  repeat  and  rival  them  in  his  own  experience  and 
discipline.  In  the  most  impressible  period  of  life,  and  with 
a  mind  of  peculiar  susceptibility,  especially  as  to  religious 
impressions,  his  closet  companions  were  such  books  as 
Hall's  «  Treatise  of  Meditation  "  and  Scudder's  «  Christian's 
Daily  Walk,"  whose  enthusiasm  he  eagerly  caught,  and 
whose  sternest  directions  he  endeavored  systematically  to 
put  in  practice.  Thus  his  religious  nature,  at  the  outset, 
was  forced  above  its  strength,  and  beyond  what  its  health 
could  bear.  The  beautiful  simplicity  and  freedom  of  a 
childish  piety  he  was  never  permitted  to  enjoy.  He  aimed 
and  was  encouraged  to  leap  into  sainthood,  when  he  should 
have  been  almost  unconsciously  advancing  along  the  de- 
lightful path  of  peace,  under  the  easy  tuition  of  parental 
gentleness,  and  the  soft  constraint  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
whose  measure  of  influence  is  dispensed  in  most  delicate 
harmony  with  the  laws  of  the  mind,  and  nicely  balanced 
proportion  to  the  growing  capacity  of  the  soul.  When  we 
have  become  familiar  with  his  early  religious  history,  we 
cease  to  wonder  and  to  blame,  —  for  all  other  emotions  are 
swallowed  up  in  pity  and  regret, — while  we  read  of  his  long 
and  oft-repeated  fasts,  his  ascetic  mortifications  arid  vigils, 
his  ecstacies  and  raptures  in  hours  of  nervous  exhaustion 
and  excitement,  and  his  most  exact  system  of  devotional 
and  practical  duty,  running  out  into  the  smallest  trifles,  and 
giving  an  an*  of  formality  and  design,  not  only  to  every  act 
of  daily  life,  but  even  to  every  prayer  and  ejaculation  of  his 
most  private  moments.  We  cease,  I  say,  to  wonder  and 
to  blame ;  for  we  can  trace  all  these  extravagances  back  to 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  93 

causes  independent  of  his  nature  or  his  will.  Nay  more, 
to  a  certain  extent  our  censure  is  changed  into  admiration 
at  the  perseverance  and  patient  energy  with  which  he  so 
steadily  adhered  to,  and  so  thoroughly  carried  out,  the  great 
mistake  of  his  childhood,  and  the  difficult  task  which  he 
had  at  first  undertaken  under  false  impressions  of  duty.* 

But  we  must  not  suppose  that  Cotton  Mather  was  not 
conscious  of  the  fault  we  are  considering,  or  that  he  did  not 
struggle  against  it.      His  diary  affords  abundant  evidence 

*  His  son  computed  the  number  of  his  father's  fasts  at  not  less  than 
four  hundred  and  fifty.  He  always  spent  a  day  in  fasting  once  a  month,  and 
generally  one  or  two  in  a  week.  In  these,  he  strove  to  see  and  feel  all  his 
sins,  and  to  come  very  near  to  God  in  holy  contemplation  and  fervent 
prayer. 

I  have  alluded  to  his  exact  methods  of  devotion  and  diity.  He  endea- 
vored literally  to  fulfil  the  apostolic  injunction,  "Whether  we  cat  or  drink, 
or  whatever  we  do,"  let  us  "  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God."  He  strove  to  con- 
nect a  religious  meaning  with  every  thing  he  saw  or  heard  or  did,  and  to 
derive  from  all  religious  improvement.  His  plans  and  devices  for  this  pur- 
pose were  numberless.  He  was  extravagant,  but  sincere,  in  these  contri- 
vances. His  purpose  was  good,  but  he  carried  it  to  extremes.  He  was 
constantly  spurring  himself  to  devout  thought  and  religious  duty.  He 
-would  not  allow  the  least  relaxation  to  his  self-scrutiny  and  discii^line.  He 
was  every  hour  setting  to  himself  some  new  task  of  piety.  Illustrations  of 
these  peculiarities  might  be  multiplied  almost  without  end.  Two  or  three, 
however,  will  suffice  :  — 

"  I  durst  not  let  my  mind  lie  fallow  as  I  walk  the  streets.  I  rebuke 
myself  with  heavy  complaints,  if  I  have  gone  many  steps  without  a  struggle 
to  pull  down  thoughts  of  my  Saviour  into  my  soul.  I  compel  the  signs  in 
the  streets  to  point  me  unto  something  in  my  Saviour  that  should  be  thought 
upon.  When  I  am  at  a  loss  for  fresh  thoughts  of  him,  it  is  but  casting  my 
eye  on  the  sJmps  of  either  side ;  and  from  the  varieties  in  them  I  have  something 
in  my  Saviour  suggested  to  me."  When  he  knocked  at  a  door,  his  faith  was 
quickened  towards  his  Saviour's  promise,  "  Knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  to 
you."  When  he  paired  his  nails,  he  thought  how  he  might  "lay  aside  all 
superfluity  of  naughtiness."  If  a  man  passed,  and  did  not  notice  him,  he 
would  pray,  that  God  would  help  him  "  to  take  due  notice  of  Christ."  — 
Et  cetera. 


94  HISTORY     OF 

to  the  contrary.     One  of  the  first  entries  in  it,  after  his  leav- 
ing college,  records  his  "  apprehension  of  a  cursed  pride," 
working  in  his  heart,  that  filled  him  with  inexpressible  bit- 
terness and  confusion  before  the  Lord.     "  I  resolved,  there- 
fore," he  .continues,  "  that  I  would  set  apart  a  day  to  humble 
myself  before  God  for  the  pride  of  my  own  heart,  and  to 
enti'eat  that  by  his  grace  I  may  be  delivered  from  that  sin. 
On  examining   myself,   I  found  that   proud  thoughts  fly- 
blowed my  best  performances,  and  also  an  ambitious  affec- 
tation of  pre-eminence  far  above  what  could  belong  to  my 
age  or  worth,  and  above  others  that  were  far  more  deserv- 
ing than  myself."     Having  then  proceeded  to  consider  the 
folly  and  wickedness  of   pride,  and  to  set  before  himself 
strongly  the  absurdity  of  his  glorying  in  himself,  in  whom 
God  saw  so  many  weaknesses  and  sins,  he  asks,  "  But  what 
shall  I  do  for  the  cure  of  this  disease  ?     In  the  first  and 
chief  place,  I  would  carry  my  distempered  heart  unto  the 
Lord  Jesus,  and  put  it  into  the  hands  of  that  all-sufficient 
Physician,  for  Him  to  cure  it.     Secondly,  I  would  be  daily 
watchful  against  my  pride,  and  continually  keep  an  eye 
upon  my  heart,  and  check  the  least  beginnings  and  first 
motion  of  this  corruption."     He  concludes  all  with  a  prayer 
for  help  from  above,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  am  laboring  and 
heavy  laden  ;    but  Christ  bids  me  come :   he  calls  for  my 
heart.     But  what  kind  of  a  heart  ?     He  does  not  say ;  but 
I  am  sure  he  calls  for  mine.     Hence,  though  my  heart  be  a 
proud  heart,  yet,  as  long  as  it  is  mine,  I  am  to  bring  it. 
And,  O  Lord !  I  bring  it  because  it  is  proud.     O  Lord  I  take 
it,  and  make  it  humble.     Though  /  cannot  overcome  this 
pride,  he  can.     Oh !  let  him  do  it ;  I  wait  upon  him  for  it." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  95 

Such  struggles  against  his  weaknesses,  and  such  earnest 
prayers  for  divine  help  to  overcome  them,  are  continually- 
revealed  in  his  diary,  and  ought  to  be  distinctly  and  honora- 
bly mentioned  whenever  his  infirmities  are  spoken  of. 

Another  fault  quite  evident  in  Cotton  Mather  is  irrita- 
bilitij.  He  was  by  nature  sensitive:  his  temperament  was 
nervous,  and  he  was  constitutionally  restless.  His  feelings 
were  quick,  and  he  expressed  himself  strongly.  But  that 
his  anger  was  any  more  inflammable,  or  explosive,  or  sharp 
in  report,  than  is  commonly  the  case  with  impulsive,  ardent, 
and  intensely  active  men,  there  is  no  good  reason  to  believe. 
Besides,  he  met  with  a  great  deal  to  vex  him,  and  try  his 
temper.  His  great  activity ;  his  manifold  wi'itings  on 
almost  every  subject ;  his  multiplied  engagements  of  a 
public  nature  ;  his  controversies  ;  his  theological,  ecclesias- 
tical, and  political  opinions,  openly  and  strongly  declared ; 
all  these  together  kept  him  in  such  forwardness  before  the 
world,  and  brought  him  into  contact  with  the  prejudices  of 
men  at  so  many  points,  that  he  was  constantly  exposed  to 
enmity  and  attack.  He  himself  says,  with  some  humor,  "  I 
have,  fu-st  and  last,  had  such  a  number  of  pamphlets 
thrown  at  me,  that,  if  I  had  been  vulnerable,  I  might 
appear  stuck  as  full  of  darts  as  the  man  in  the  sig-ns  of  the 
almanack."  It  should  be  remembered  also,  in  this  connec- 
tion, that  he  had  over  his  adversaries  the  doubtful  advan- 
tage of  a  more  abundant  vocabulary,  and  a  readiness  and 
fluency  of  speech  almost  unequalled.  Two  bitter  epithets 
for  their  one  was  no  more  than  his  fair  proportion,  con- 
sidering his  more  copious  furniture  of  words,  and  ought 
perhaps  to  be  taken  as  the  measure  of  only  an  equal  wrath. 


96  HISTORY     OF 

But  what  is  more  to  the  purpose  is  this :  If  it  can  be 
proved  as  clearly,  that  any  of  his  assailants  were  half  as 
sorry  for  their  anger  and  invective  as  he  was  for  his  own, 
or  prayed  more  earnestly  for  a  forgiving  spirit  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  tongue,  though  their  offence  were  even  greater 
than  his,  they  shall  be  judged  with  as  merciful  a  judgment. 
Again  and  again  we  find  him  humbling  himself  before 
God,  when  he  had  been  betrayed  into  the  indulgence  of 
angry  emotion  or  hasty  speech,  and  praying  for  strength  to 
overcome  this  propensity.  Again  and  again  we  read  in  his 
private  papers  "  Resolutions  against  speaking  evil  of  any 
man.  I  will  keep  a  charity  for  the  person  of  whom  I  am 
forced  to  speak  harshly,  wishing  most  heartily  that  all  good 
might  rather  be  spoken  of  him.  I  will  watch  my  heart, 
and  never  utter  hard  things  with  delight,  but  with  brevity 
and  aversion.  If  I  know  any  good  that  can  be  said,  I  will 
balance  the  bad  with  the  mention  of  it.  I  will  first  speak 
to  the  person,  if  I  can ;  at  all  events,  I  will  speak  nothing 
of  him  but  what  I  would  be  content  to  say  to  his  face." 
Again  and  again  we  find  prayers  for  the  forgiveness  of  his 
enemies,  and  for  a  blessing  upon  those  who  had  maligned 
him. 

A  single  paragraph,  illustrative  of  the  sincerity  of  such 
prayers,  is  all  that  I  have  space  to  transcribe.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say,  that  it  was  not  written  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  its  ever  being  seen  by  any  eye  but  his  own.  Let 
any  man  read  it,  and  judge  whether  the  instantaneous 
association  of  kind  wishes  for  those  who  had  v^Tonged  him, 
with  the  first  rush  of  joyous  emotion  at  the  sense  of  God's 
mercy  to  himself,  is  not  a  beautiful  evidence  of  a  heart 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  97 

essentially  generous  and  forgiving:  —  "This  day,  having 
humbled  myself,  and  judged  myself  before  the  Lord,  for 
my  many  ofl'ences,  the  Spirit  of  the  Most  High  brought  me 
to  a  marvellous  temper,  which  was  to  me  like  the  very 
suburbs  of  heaven,  through  the  joy  he  gave  me  that  my 
sins  were  forgiven  through  the  pardoning  mercy  of  God  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Immediately,  I  called  to  mind  the  names  of 
all  the  persons  whom  I  remembered  to  have  reproached 
and  injured  me,  and  most  heartily  begged  the  God  of  hea- 
ven on  their  behalf,  one  by  one,  that  they  might  be  blessed 
with  all  the  blessings  of  goodness." 

Among  the  faults  which  have  been  attributed  to  Cotton 
Mather,  are  bigotry  and  intolerance.  To  the  full  extent 
which  justice  warrants,  let  their  stain  rest  upon  his  charac- 
ter,—  but  no  further.  That  he  was  a  strict  Calvinist  and 
a  zealous  Congregationalist ;  that  he  maintained  the  theo- 
logical doctrines  which  he  believed,  and  the  ecclesiastical 
order  he  loved,  ^\dth  vigor  and  warmth ;  that  in  the  heat 
of  polemics  he  was  sometimes  sharp  and  uncivil ;  that  in 
attacking  errors  which  he  deemed  baneful,  or  repelling 
unjust  accusations  against  his  father  or  himself,  he  was 
at  times  sarcastic,  and  even  vituperative,  —  are  facts  which 
the  most  friendly  biographer  would  not  attempt  to  deny. 
And  yet  in  principle,  and  generally  in  feeling,  however 
incompatible  the  two  statements  may  seem,  he  was  more 
liberal  and  tolerant  in  regard  to  religious  opinions  and  sects 
than  the  majority  of  divines  of  his  own  day  and  school. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  any  contemporary  writings 
such  repeated  and  strong  avowals  of  dislike  to  bigotry,  and 
hatred  of  persecution  for  conscience'  sake,  or  such  just 
13 


98  HISTORY     OF 

and  enlarged  sentiments  with  regard  to  toleration,  as  his 
own. 

"  I  adhere,"  he  says,  "  to  the  Sacred  Scriptures  as  the 
sufficient  rule  for  belief  and  worship  and  manners  among 
the  people  of  God ;  and  I  would  maintain  a  brotherly 
fellowship  with  all  good  men,  in  the  things  wherein  I 
apprehend  them  to  follow  these  divine  directions."  I  quote 
from  the  "  Manductio  ad  Ministerium,"  a  work  written  for 
the  direction  of  students  for  the  ministry,  containing  many 
valuable  counsels,  and  displaying  the  author's  usual  learn- 
ing and  ability.  In  the  same  book,  he  says,  "  Let  the  table 
of  the  Lord  have  no  rails  about  it,  that  shall  hinder  a  godly 
Independent,  Presbyterian,  Episcopalian,  Antipgedobaptist, 
or  Lutheran,  from  sitting  down  together  there.  Corinthian 
brass  would  not  be  so  bright  a  composition  as  the  people 
of  God  in  such  a  coalition,  feasting  together  on  his  holy 
mountain.  Insist  upon  it,  that  no  terms  shall  be  imposed 
but  such  necessary  things  as  Heaven  will  require  of  all ;  that 
all  who  fear  God  and  work  righteousness,  all  whom  Christ 
receives  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  shall  be  received  and 
acknowledged  by  Christians  as  brethren."  "  'Tis  even  the 
first-born  of  my  wishes,"  he  says  to  the  young  minister, 
"  that  you  may  be  one  of  those  angels  that  shall  fly  through 
the  midst  of  heaven  with  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  preach 
it  unto  them  who  dwell  upon  the  earth,  and  move  all  the 
people  of  God,  though  of  different  persuasions  in  lesser 
points,  to  embrace  one  another  upon  the  generous  maxims 
of  it,  and  keep  lesser  points  in  a  due  subordination  unto 
the  superior  maxims,  and  manage  their  differences  upon 
these  lesser  points  with  another   spirit   than   that  which 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  99 

disputers  of  this  world,  in  the  several  sects  of  Christians, 
keep  commonly  cutting  one  another  withal."  And  to  move 
and  encourage  those  to  whom  he  Avrites  to  this  liberal 
course,  he  utters  a  grand  prophecy  in  this  strong  para- 
graph :  "  There  are  concurring  with  you  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  generous  minds,  in  which  this  feeling  now  lies 
shut  up  as  an  auruni  fidminans ;  but  it  will  break  forth  more 
and  more  as  the  day  approaches,  and  as  men  improve  in 
manly  religion^  in  explosions  that  will  carry  all  before  it ; 
and  the  mean,  little,  naiTow  souls  that  know  no  religion  but 
that  of  a  party  and  of  their  secular  interests,  will  become 
deserted  objects,  for  the  pity  or  disdain  of  those  who  have 
taken  the  way  that  is  above  them."  These  expressions  cer- 
tainly do  honor  to  his  liberality.  The  practice  of  his  own 
church,  with  regard  to  Christian  intercourse,  was,  by  his 
advice,  conformable  to  these  enlarged  principles ;  and  no  one 
who  reads  the  exulting  language  in  which  he  expresses  his 
delight  at  the  absence  of  a  sectarian  spirit  in  the  churches 
of  Boston  can  for  a  moment  doubt  his  sincerity  :  "  In  this 
capital  city  of  Boston,  there  are  ten  assemblies  of  Christians 
of  different  persuasions,  who  live  so  lovingly  and  peaceably 
together,  doing  all  the  offices  of  friendship  for  one  another 
in  so  neighborly  a  manner,  as  may  give  a  sensible  rebuke 
to  all  the  bigots  of  uniformity,  and  show  them  how  con- 
sistent a  variety  of  rites  in  religion  may  be  with  the  tran- 
quillity of  human  society  ;  and  may  demonstrate  to  the 
world  that  persecution  for  conscientious  dissent  in  religion 
is  an  abomination  of  desolation,  a  thing  whereof  all  wise 
and  just  men  will  say,  '  Cursed  be  its  anger ! ' " 

Even  towards  the  Quakers,  whom  he  seems  to  have 


100  HISTORY     OF 

particularly  disliked,  he  declares  his  desire  that  "  all  imagi- 
nable civility  should  be  extended,  and  that  the  civil  magis- 
trate should  not  inflict  the  damage  of  a  farthing  for  their 
consciences."  It  is  true  that  he  himself  did  not,  in  his  own 
treatment  of  them,  act  up  to  his  principles.  He  dealt  with 
them  very  severely  in  his  writings  ;  for  he  utterly  abomi- 
nated their  doctrines,  and  dreaded  the  tendency  of  them, 
as  alike  dangerous  to  the  church  and  the  state.  He  proba- 
bly considered  it  perfectly  fair,  as  well  as  a  duty,  to  oppose 
them  with  all  his  might,  and  hold  their  opinions  and  prac- 
tices up  to  ridicule  in  his  books,  so  long  as  he  left  them 
unharmed  in  person ;  and  doubtless  made  in  his  own  mind 
a  broader  distinction  than  would  now  be  considered  justi- 
fiable between  verbal  and  legal  persecution.  And  it  ought 
to  be  said  further,  that  he  grounds  his  severity  against 
the  Quakers  as  much,  or  more,  upon  specimens  of  their 
political  contumely  and  obstinacy,  and  the  immoralities 
of  some  of  their  number,  which  he  traced  to  the  loose- 
ness of  their  religious  notions,  than  upon  their  doctrines 
alone. 

The  greatest  blot  upon  the  character  of  Cotton  Mather, 
in  the  general  opinion,  is  his  conduct  in  relation  to  the 
"  Salem  Witchcraft."  He  is  charged,  not  only  with  having 
been  the  chief  agent  in  kindling  the  fierce  excitement  of 
the  public  mind  on  that  subject,  but  with  having  instigated 
and  encouraged  the  barbarities  in  which  it  expended  itself. 
The  worst  motives,  moreover,  have  been  attributed  to  him 
for  the  part  he  acted.  He  has  been  accused  of  having 
fanned  the  terrific  flame,  for  the  gratification  of  personal 
ambition  or  professional  vanity ;  with  having  been  willing 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  101 

to  risk  all  the  bloody  results  of  the  persecution,  for  the 
chance  of  restoring  the  political  power  of  the  clergy,  which 
was  fast  slipping  out  of  their  hands  ;  and  with  odious  hypo- 
crisy, in  pretending  implicit  faith  in  the  supposed  cases  of 
demoniacal  possession,  and  a  religious  indignation  against 
the  witches,  in  order  to  inflame  the  passion  of  the  populace, 
and  influence  the  decision  of  the  courts  for  the  furtherance 
of  his  deep  schemes. 

That  he  was  one  of  the  principal  actors  in  this  tragedy 
is  evident.  That  his  writings  upon  the  wonders  of  the 
invisible  world,  and  the  stand  he  early  took,  had  some 
influence  upon  public  sentiment,  is  quite  probable.  But 
that  he  was  really  actuated  by  the  motives  alleged  against 
him  is  an  accusation  that  would  require  more  proof  to  sub- 
stantiate it  than  has  ever  yet  been  brought  together. 
However  credulous,  however  ambitious.  Cotton  Mather 
was  not  artful  nor  hypocritical.  No  one  who  is  intimate 
with  his  history  will  be  ready  to  suspect  him  of  these  vices. 
No  one  who  searches  his  nature  most  thoroughly  will  find 
them  amongst  his  faults ;  at  least,  not  in  a  degree  adequate 
to  the  given  result.  He  often  deceived  himself;  but  he  was 
not  adroit  enough  in  cunning  to  deceive  others.  The  very 
conceit  that  prevented  him  from  clearly  seeing  his  own 
faults  prevented  him  also  from  attempting  to  hide  them 
from  others.  He  was  too  ardent  and  demonstrative  for  a 
hypocrite ;  too  restless  and  garrulous,  too  impulsive  and 
erratic,  for  a  conspirator.  His  mind  was  too  full  of 
thoughts,  notions,  and  fancies,  ever  crowding  and  chasing 
one  another,  and  all  straining  after  the  light  in  word  or 
deed,  to  hatch  or  brood  in  the  dark  a  single   dangerous 


102  HISTORY     OF 

purpose.     He  may  be  called  a  fool  for  his  credulity ;   but 
he  certainly  cannot  be  called  a  knave  for  his  cunning. 

His  first  publication  on  the  subject  of  witchcraft  was  in 
1685,  the  year  in  which  he  was  ordained,  and  several  years 
before  the  great  excitement  and  the  Salem  trials.  The 
very  date  of  this  work  is  evidence  enough  of  two  facts, 
important  to  a  right  judgment  of  his  case :  first,  that  his 
belief  in  witchcraft  was  early  deeply  rooted  in  his  mind, 
and  sustained  by  the  scriptural  and  historical  testimony 
referred  to  in  that  book ;  and,  secondly,  that  he  did  not  get 
up  a  fury  in  himself  for  the  occasion  when  the  time  was 
ripe  for  the  Salem  tragedy,  but  had  actually  called  public 
attention  to  the  subject,  because  of  his  opinion  of  its  intrin- 
sic interest,  long  before  the  period  when  it  is  supposed  the 
plan  was  formed  to  excite  the  people  for  his  own  impor- 
tance or  for  the  political  interests  of  the  clergy. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  passionately  fond  of  the 
marvellous.  From  his  early  life,  he  had  meditated  much 
upon  the  "  angelical  ministry,"  both  good  and  bad,  and 
was  a  firm  believer  in  it.  He  supposed  that  spirits  were 
all  around  man's  path,  and  ever  active.  He  attributed 
temptations  and  wicked  thoughts  to  the  agency  of  the  evil 
angels ;  and  traced  back  to  God,  pure  suggestions,  holy 
impulses,  and  choice  blessings,  dispensed  through  the  kind 
ministrations  of  the  good.  To  "  please  the  angels  "  was 
one  of  his  daily  motives ;  to  be  in  sympathy  with  them,  an 
object  of  frequent  endeavor ;  to  be  like  them,  and  fitted  for 
their  communion,  his  constant  prayer.  He  studied,  as  he 
said,  with  all  the  thought  and  learning  he  could  master, 
the  existence,  properties,  and  relations  of  the  angels,  and 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  103 

the  honor  due  to  them  by  men,  especially  to  the  "  benign 
angels."  He  made  himself  familiar  with  every  declaration 
and  hint  of  Scripture,  as  to  their  ministry  towards  children 
or  particular  saints,  or  the  church  in  general.  He  made 
catalogues  of  his  mercies  from  heaven,  and  compared  them 
with  those  attributed  in  the  Bible  to  their  agency.  He 
found  many  instances  in  which  the  similarity  was  sufficient 
to  encourage  him  to  suppose  he  also  had  felt  their  kindness. 
And,  when  he  thought  of  these  things,  his  soul  would  over- 
flow with  rapturous  praises ;  "  and  in  the  midst  of  them," 
he  writes,  "  I  could  not  forbear  saying,  '  If  any  good  angels 
of  the  Lord  are  now  by  me,  do  you  also  bless  the  Lord,  ye 
heavenly  ministers !  and,  oh !  adore  that  free  grace  of  his 
which  employs  you  to  be  serviceable  to  so  poor,  so  mean, 
so  vile  a  wretch  as  is  here  prostrate  before  him."  * 

*  A  few  other  sentences,  from  those  which  are  scattered  through  his 
private  papers,  may  not  be  uninteresting  in  this  connection  :  — 

"Have  I,  to  animate  myself  unto  holiness  in  all  manner  of  conversa- 
sation,  in  my  contemplations  often  endeavored  to  affect  myself  with  the 
holiness  of  the  purified  spirits  in  the  paradise  of  God ;  their  flaming  devotions ; 
their  delight  in  God ;  their  hatred  of  sin ;  the  contempt  with  which  they 
look  down  on  the  high  things  of  this  world ;  and  the  goodness  with  which 
they  treat  one  another  ?  —  done  this  with  earnest  desires  to  be  as  like  them 
as  this  mortal  state  may  attain  to  and  will  admit  of  ? 

"  Have  I  frequently  thought,  with  what  a  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts 
angels  do  burn ;  how  they  are  upon  the  wing  to  execute  the  commands  of 
our  Lord ;  with  what  pure  eyes  of  detestation  thej'  behold  evil,  and  look 
upon  iniquity ;  with  what  pleasure  they  do  good  offices  for  the  heirs  of  sal- 
vation ?  and  have  I  wished  and  longed,  oh  that  I  were,  as  far  as  my  capa- 
city would  allow  of  it,  like  unto  those  holy  ones  ? "  ♦'  Have  I  thought 
■what  returns  I  should  make  for  the  benefits  I  have  received  by  God's 
angels  ? " 

"  Have  I,  because  I  have  thought  it  would  be  a  Utile  angelical,  taken  a 
list  of  many  poor  people,  with  some  care  to  have  their  necessities  relieved 
against  the  approaching  winter  ?  " 


104  HISTORY     OF 

The  evil  angels,  on  the  other  hand,  were  as  much 
objects  of  hatred  and  dread  as  the  good  were  of  honor  and 
love.  He  watched  against  their  machinations ;  he  strove 
to  resist  them ;  he  prayed  to  be  delivered  from  their  power. 

Few  of  his  own  age  probably  had  such  a  strong  and 
lively  faith  in  the  "  angelical  ministry,"  and  fewer  still 
made  such  practical  use  of  their  belief.  We  can  easily 
imagine  that  such  a  man  should  have  been  a  firm  believer 
in  demoniacal  possession  and  witchcraft,  especially  in  an 
age  when  the  almost  universal  faith  of  the  Christian  world 
was  on  his  side,  when  the  wisest  men  and  the  ablest  jurists 
gave  him  their  sanction.  We  wonder  now  at  the  credulity 
of  our  ancestors,  and  deem  it  well  nigh  impossible  that 
such  a  delusion  should  have  held  such  wide  and  deep 
dominion  over  intelligent  minds,  so  short  a  time  ago.  But 
we  should  remember  that  it  was  nearly  half  a  century  later 
than  the  date  of  the  Salem  trials  before  the  English  sta- 
tute which  made  witchcraft  a  capital  offence  was  repealed.* 
And  more,  I  think,  than  half  a  century  later,  Sir  William 
Blackstone  declared  "  that  to  deny  the  actual  existence  of 
witchcraft  and  sorcery  is  at  once  flatly  to  contradict  the 
revealed  word  of  God  and  the  testimony  of  every  nation  in 
the  world." 

There  can  be  no  difficulty,  then,  in  accounting  for  Cot- 
ton Mather's  exceeding  interest  in  the  cases  of  supposed 
witchcraft  which  were  occurring  in  his  neighborhood,  and 
in  the  process  of  the  trials  at  Salem,  without  attributing  to 
him  any  sinister  design  or  any  cruel  purpose.  It  was  pre- 
cisely the  subject  that,  above  all  others,  would  excite  his 

*  A.D.  1736. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  105 

curiosity,  and  engage  his  most  earnest  attention.  It  may 
be  no  credit  to  him  that  he  so  rioted  in  the  marvellous; 
but  that  such  was  his  taste  and  his  propensity  is  reason 
enough  for  his  having  been  so  prominent  and  busy  in  this 
baneful  delusion. 

But  it  is  constantly  hinted,  if  not  directly  asserted, 
that  guilt  attaches  to  Cotton  Mather,  —  the  terrible  guilt  of 
the  sacrifice  of  innocent  persons,  who,  on  insufficient  evi- 
dence, were  condemned  and  put  to  death.  The  stain  of 
their  blood,  in  the  view  of  some,  is  upon  him.  He  pushed 
on  the  courts,  it  is  said,  to  a  murderous  judgment.  Our 
just  and  natural  horror,  as  we  read  the  history  of  this 
awful  tragedy,  causes  a  feeling  of  indignation  to  spring  up 
against  all  who  were  instrumental  in  it.  We  are  filled 
with  pity,  as  we  ought  to  be,  for  the  victims,  and  with  dis- 
gust at  the  executioners.  But  emotions  like  these,  how- 
ever honorable  to  our  hearts,  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to 
unfit  our  minds  for  a  calm  and  sober  judgment.  Compas- 
sion ceases  to  be  a  virtue  when  it  stands  in  the  way  of 
justice.  Our  sympathies  have  been  so  strongly  excited  to- 
wards the  one  side,  that  we  have  not,  I  think,  been  entirely 
just  to  the  other.  Several  innocent  persons  were  actually 
hung  as  witches  ;  therefore  the  judges  were  weak  and  san- 
guinary men,  those  who  countenanced  them  were  as  un- 
worthy and  cruel  as  themselves,  and  Massachusetts  herself 
must  wear  an  indelible  stain.  Such  seems  to  be  the  reason- 
ing which  by  common  consent  we  have  adopted  ;  such  the 
conclusion  into  which  we  seem  disposed  to  settle  down. 
But,  though  it  goes  against  my  heart  even  to  appear  to  turn 
one  impulse  of  pity  from  the  sufferers,  I  must  ask  you  to 
14 


106  HISTORY     OF 

look  for  one  moment  with  composm-e  at  the  other  side.  An 
alarming  excitement  was  prevaiKng  in  Salem  and  its  vici- 
nity. A  large  and  continually  increasing  number  of  people 
complained  that  they  were  preternaturally  vexed  and  tor- 
tured. They  exhibited  all  the  marks  of  real  suffering. 
They  kept  the  town  in  disturbance  by  their  strange  actions 
and  sudden  outcries.  They  insisted  that  their  tormentors 
were  spectres,  exactly  resembling  certain  living  men  and 
women,  whom  they  described.  They  declared  that  these 
spectral  tormentors  tendered  them  a  book,  in  the  devil's 
name,  to  sign  or  touch,  in  token  of  allegiance ;  and,  if  they 
refused,  redoubled  their  tortures.  So  great  became  the 
agitation  and  disorder,  so  importunate  the  outcries  of  the 
victims,  so  manifold  their  apparent  sufferings,  and  so 
reiterated  their  charges  against  the  individuals  whom  the 
spectres  personated,  that  the  magistrates  were  compelled 
to  take  cognizance  of  the  matter.  They  must  do  some- 
thing to  put  a  stop  to  these  alarming  evils.  They  pro- 
ceeded to  an  investigation.  The  afflicted,  being  examined, 
testified  to  the  reality  of  their  calamities.  Being  con- 
fronted with  the  persons  whom  they  accused,  they  would 
immediately  swoon,  or  fall  into  convulsions,  from  which  the 
touch  of  no  other  hands  than  those  of  the  accused  them- 
selves could  restore  them ;  but,  when  touched  by  them,  they 
immediately  revived.  Moreover,  as  if  under  the  influence 
of  a  mysterious  fascination  or  sympathy,  they  would  imi- 
tate all  the  motions  of  the  accused,  and  obey  their  gestures, 
though  apparently  too  distant  to  observe  them.  The 
magistrates  were  puzzled.  The  whole  country  was  in 
confusion.     The  General  Court  was  able  to  transact  little 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  107 

business,  and  adjourned,  on  account  of  the  commotion, 
from  the  second  day  of  July  to  the  second  Wednesday 
in  October.  A  general  panic  seized  all  classes.  The 
wisest  men  in  the  country  were  at  first  carried  away  with 
the  excitement.  They  all  believed  in  witchcraft  and  com- 
merce with  the  devil,  even  those  who  afterwards  wrote 
most  strongly  against  the  hard  things  done  in  the  trials ; 
and  they  thought  that  the  present  were  cases  of  real  pos- 
session. Th^y  all,  too,  felt  the  necessity  of  vigorous  mea- 
sures of  some  kind,  to  relieve  the  country,  if  possible,  from 
the  sore  calamity  that  had  fallen  upon  it.  What  shall  be 
done?  The  seven  judges*  tried  and  condemned  one, — 
who  was  executed,  —  and  then  hesitated.  The  cases 
multiplied.  The  jails  were  overflowing  with  the  accused. 
"  What  shall  be  done  ?  "  was  the  question  that  passed 
from  mouth  to  mouth.  At  this  stage.  Cotton  Mather 
made  a  proposal  far  more  characteristic  of  him  than 
ambition  or  cruelty.  He  offered,  that^  if  the  possessed 
people  who  were  under  accusation  might  be  scattered  far 
asunder,  he  vjould  singly  provide  for  six  of  them,  and  see 
whether,  ivithout  more  bitter  methods,  prayer  tvith  fasting 
would  not  put  an  end  to  these  heavy  trials.  This  offer  was 
refused,  as  we  might  suppose ;  for  all  men  had  not  the  same 
faith  as  our  pastor  in  those  remedies.  But  that  he  was  in 
earnest  in  his  offer  is  evident,  not  only  from  the  general 
tone  of  his  opinions  and  practice,  but  also  from  the  fact 
that  he  himself,  during  the  witchcraft  trials,  spent  a  day 
almost  every  week  in  secret  fasting  and  prayer. 

*  Lieut. -Governor  Stoughton,  Major  Saltonstall,  Major  Richards,  Major 
Gedney,  Mr.  Wait  Winthrop,  Capt.  Sewall,  and  Mr.  Sargeant. 


108  HISTORY     OF 

But  the  matter  was  now  in  the  courts ;  and  through  the 
courts  it  must  go,  and  by  the  courts  be  decided.  Only, 
before  proceeding  further,  the  Governor  and  Council,  accord- 
ing to  "  an  old  charter-practice,"  asked  the  advice  of  the 
clergy  of  Boston.  A  paper,  containing  eight  articles  of 
advice,  was  drawn  up  by  them,  the  author  of  which  was 
Cotton  Mather.  It  has  been  objected  against,  but,  I  think, 
without  reason.  It  is  a  document  not  dishonorable  to  the 
ministers.  If  Cotton  Mather's  true  sentiments  are  to  be 
judged  of  by  it,  his  most  partial  advocate  could  ask  for  no 
better  vindication.  It  recommends  "  a  very  critical  and 
exquisite  caution "  in  the  conduct  of  the  prosecution.  It 
urges  that  all  proceedings  be  managed  with  "  an  exceeding 
tenderness  to  the  accused."  It  suggests,  that,  in  the 
examinations,  "  as  little  noise,  company,  and  openness  as 
possible  "  should  be  allowed ;  and  that  no  tests  of  doubtful 
lawfulness  be  employed.  It  is  true,  that  in  a  single  section 
it  recommends  "  the  speedy  and  vigorous  prosecutions  of 
such  as  have  rendered  themselves  obnoxious,  according  to 
the  directions  given  in  the  laws  of  God,  and  the  wholesome 
statutes  of  the  English  nation.^''  But  is  this  an  offence 
against  humanity,  justice,  and  religion?  As  good  citi- 
zens ;  as  friends  of  law ;  as  men  who  honored  the  word  of 
God,  and  would  uphold  the  wholesome  statutes  *  of  their 
country ;  as  those  who  would  not  flinch  from  a  duty  be- 
cause it  was  painful,  or  have  the  judges  quail  before  the 
severity  of  the  law  they  were  bound  under  oath  to  enforce ; 

*  At  the  first  trial,  the  statute  of  James  the  First  was  in  force. 
Before  the  second,  the  Old  Colony  law,  making  witchcraft  a  capital  crime, 
was  revived. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  109 

and  as  men,  moreover,  who  believed  that  commerce  with 
the  devil  was  one  of  the  worst  of  crimes,  —  what  less  could 
they  have  advised?  "  They  imagined  the  prince  of  hell, 
with  his  legions,  to  be  among  them,  the  Lord's  host,  seek- 
ing among  them  whom  he  might  devour  ;  and  they  would 
give  place  to  him  for  subjection,  —  no,  not  for  an  hour. 
Set  upon  by  invisible  and  supernatural  foes,  they  thought 
of  nothing  but  prompt  defiance,  inflexible  resistance,  and 
the  victory  which  God  would  give  his  people.  They 
would  have  made  bare  the  arm  of  flesh  against  the  serpent 
in  bodily  presence,  could  he  have  put  on  an  assailable 
shape  :  as  it  was,  they  let  it  fall  without  mercy  on  those 
whom  they  understood  to  be  his  emissaries."  *  They  were 
true  Massachusetts  men  and  ministers ;  and,  "  whatever 
opinions  upon  facts  or  duties  Massachusetts  has  held,  her 
habit  has  been,  whether  for  good  or  ill,  to  follow  them  with 
vigorous  action."  f 

*  See  Dr.  Palfrey's  admirable  Semi-centennial  Discourse  before  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

t  Hutchinson  says,  "The  court  justified  themselves  from  books  of  law, 
and  the  authorities  of  Keble,  Dalton,  and  other  lawj^ers,  then  of  the  first 
character,  who  lay  down  rules  of  conviction  as  absurd  and  dangerous  as  any 
which  were  practised  in  New  England.  Reproach  for  hanging  witches, 
although  it  has  been  often  cast  upon  the  people  of  New  England  by  those  of 
Old,  yet  it  must  have  been  done  with  an  ill  grace.  The  people  of  New 
England  were  of  a  grave  cast,  and  had  long  been  disposed  to  give  a  serious, 
solemn  construction  even  to  common  events  in  Providence  ;  but  in  Old  Eng- 
land the  reign  of  Charles  II.  was  as  remarkable  for  gaiety  as  any  whatsoever, 
and  for  scepticism  and  infidelity  as  any  which  preceded  it.  .  .  .  In  Scotland, 
seven  wore  executed  for  witches,  in  1697,  upon  the  testimony  of  one  girl, 
about  eleven  years  old.  .  .  .  More  witches  have  been  put  to  death  in  a  single 
county  in  England,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  than  have  ever  suffered  in  New 
England,  altogether,  from  first  to  last."  —  Ilistonj  of  Massachusetts,  vol.  ii. 
chap.  1. 


110 


HISTORY     OF 


It  was  no  fault  of  the  clergy,  as  Hutchinson  suggests, 
that  the  magistrates  paid  more  regard  to  the  last  article  than 
to  all  that  preceded  it,  and  chose  to  carry  on  the  prosecutions 
with  "  all  possible  vigor,"  to  the  neglect  of  "  the  exquisite 
caution  and  excessive  tenderness  "  which  had  been  so  ear- 
nestly recommended. 

If  the  trials  had  been  conducted  according  to  the  advices 
of  the  ministers ;  if  all  presumptive  and  spectral  evidence, 
all  tests  of  doubtful  lawfulness,  all  "  testimonies  whose 
force  and  strength  is  from  the  devils  alone,"  had  been  re- 
jected ;  if  all  the  "  cautions,  restrictions,  and  qualifications  " 
recommended  by  the  clergy  had  been  properly  regarded, 
"the  judges  might  have  proceeded  as  vigorously  as  they 
pleased ;  the  more  vigorously  the  better,  for  by  this  means 
the  jails  had  been  the  sooner  emptied,  and  the  accused 
persons  set  at  liberty."  * 

*  "  From  persons  who  believed  in  the  reaUty  of  Avitchcraft,  and  that 
the  proper  witch  is  deserving  of  death,  as  all  these  ministers  most  seriously 
did, — I  see  not  how  better  advice  than  that  which  they  proffered  to  the 
magistrates  on  this  occasion  could  reasonably  have  been  expected.  And 
happy  had  it  been  for  all  concerned,  if  the  judges  had  been  content  to  fol- 
low it.  But  they  would  not.  At  least,  some  of  them  would  not,  particu- 
larly Chief  Justice  Stoughton.  He  seems  to  have  been  fully  satisfied,  at 
least  for  a  time,  as  to  the  validity  of  the  'spectral  evidence,'  and  other 
branches  of  the  devil's  testimony ;  and  consequently  the  work  of  hanging 
went  on."  —  Pond's  Life  of  Sir  William  Phij^ps. 

Hutchinson  says  that  it  was  not  long  before  one  of  the  judges  [Sewall] 
was  sensible  of  his  error.  At  a  public  fast,  he  gave  the  minister  a  note, 
acknowledging  his  error  in  the  late  proceedings,  and  desiring  to  humble 
himself  in  the  sight  of  God  and  his  people.  But  Chief  Justice  Stoughton, 
being  informed  of  this  act  of  one  of  his  associates,  said,  for  himself,  when  he 
sat  in  judgment  he  had  the  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes,  and  gave  his  opinion 
according  to  the  best  of  his  understanding ;  and  although  it  might  appear 
afterwards  that  he  had  been  in  an  error,  yet  he  saw  no  necessity  of  a  public 
acknowledgment  of  it. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  Ill 

But  the  judges  were  carried  away  captive,  for  the  time, 
through  the  power  of  a  terrible  delusion.  Superstition  got 
the  better  of  their  reason  and  their  humanity.  The  blind- 
ness of  their  fanaticism  was  impenetrable  by  the  light  of 
truth.  The  cry  of  justice  could  not  make  itself  heard 
amidst  the  confusion  and  clamor  of  fear ;  and  mercy  failed 
to  render  her  thrills  perceptible  in  hearts  that  were  shiver- 
ing with  superstitious  awe.  That  Cotton  Mather  was  en- 
chanted in  the  same  spell  with  the  other  prominent  actors 
in  these  tragic  events ;  that  he  was  credulous  to  a  ridiculous 
extreme ;  that  he  was  inordinately  fond  of  the  marvellous ; 
that  he  was  too  easily  imposed  upon ;  that  his  intense  and 
undisguised  interest  in  every  case  of  alleged  possession 
betrayed  him  into  indiscretions,  and  laid  him  open  to  cen- 
sure ;  and  that  he  busied  himself  unnecessarily  with  the 
trials,  —  are  facts  which  rest  upon  indubitable  evidence,  are 
blemishes  which  can  never  be  wiped  away  from  his  name. 
But  no  deeper  stigma  than  these  facts  affix  can  be  justly 
fastened  upon  his  character.  That  he  was  under  the  in- 
fluence of  any  bad  motives,  any  sanguinary  feelings ;  that 
he  did  not  verily  think  he  was  doing  God  service,  and  the 
devil  injury ;  that  he  would  not  gladly  have  prevented  the 
disorderly  proceedings  of  the  courts,  the  application  of  un- 
lawful tests,  and  every  thing  unmerciful  in  the  trials,  and 
inhuman  in  their  issue, — the  most  careful  examination  has 
failed  to  make  me  believe. 

In  admitting  so  much  as  I  have  unfavorable  to  Cotton 
Mather,  in  relation  to  the  witchcraft-madness,  it  has  been 
my  endeavor  to  do  ample  justice  to  the  statements  and 
opinions  of    his  enemies.      If  there  has   been  an  error  in 


112  HISTORY     OF 

making  up  the  judgment  I  have  ventured  to  express,  it  is 
in  not  having  aUowed  sufficient  weight  to  the  vindications 
of  his  conduct  furnished  by  his  friends  and  himself.  I  am 
sensible  that  a  better  case  might  be  made  out  by  one  who 
should  undertake  to  defend  him.  This  I  have  wished 
studiously  to  avoid.  I  will  only  add,  in  dismissing  this 
topic,  that  every  one  who  carefully  examines  the  whole  evi- 
dence will  find  a  perplexity  which  never  can  be  wholly 
cleared  up.  At  one  moment,  his  character  appears  in  a 
favorable  light ;  at  another,  under  the  shade.  In  some 
points,  his  conduct  impresses  us  with  respect;  in  others, 
with  disapprobation.  Here,  we  find  him  taking  a  stand 
for  humanity  and  justice  ;  and  there,  apparently  countenan- 
cing the  errors  of  the  judges,  and  defending  their  decisions. 
Now,  he  expresses  sentiments  worthy  of  a  wise  man ;  and 
anon,  unless  we  reject  the  testimony  of  Calef,  he  speaks 
and  acts  more  like  one  infatuated.  There  was,  doubtless, 
an  inconsistency  in  his  own  feelings ;  and  therefore  there 
must  be  in  our  verdict.  His  mind  was  pendulous.  Though 
attached,  at  its  highest  point  of  desire  and  purpose,  to 
eternal  justice,  it  was  ever  oscillating  over  a  wide  scale  of 
notions  and  impulses.  If  he  was  a  riddle  to  himself,  there 
is  no  wonder  that  he  should  appear  so  to  us. 

The  great  defect  of  Cotton  Mather's  character  was  the 
want  of  steadiness,  to  which  allusion  has  just  been  made, 
combined  with  a  lack  of  judgment.  If  he  could  have 
possessed  these  two  qualities,  he  would  have  been  one 
of  the  greatest  and  most  influential  of  men,  as  he  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable. 

Taken  out  of  his  own  age,  and  judged  by  the  standard 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  113 

of  another,  his  character  is  precisely  such  as  is  likely  to  be 
under-estimated.  His  contemporaries,  with  all  his  imper- 
fections, regarded  him  generally  with  admiration  and 
respect,  though  he  had  enemies  enough  to  expose  all  his 
faults.  The  judgment  passed  upon  him  by  the  best  men 
of  his  times,  who  knew  him  thoroughly,  and  were  compe- 
tent to  estimate  him,  is  safe  in  the  keeping  of  history. 
The  verdict  of  posterity  may  not  have  fully  agreed  with 
theirs ;  but  theirs  stands  recorded  in  terms  distinct  and 
unequivocal,  above  the  power  of  time  or  enmity  to  oblite- 
rate or  alter.  It  accords  to  him  "  extraordinary  intellectual 
capacity,  readiness  of  wit,  vastness  of  reading,  strength  of 
memory,  treasures  of  learning,  uncommon  activity,  un- 
wearied application,  extensive  zeal,  and  splendor  of  virtue, 
through  the  abundant  grace  of  God."  It  asserts  that  "  to 
do  all  the  good  he  could  to  cdl,  was  his  maxim,  his  study, 
his  labor,  his  pleasure."  It  represents  him,  in  spite  of  his 
singular  style,  as  "  an  impressive  and  effective  preacher;  of 
so  much  warmth  and  zeal,  so  much  earnestness  and  since- 
rity, with  spirits  so  raised  and  all  on  fire  in  the  pulpit,  and 
such  evident  and  pious  longing  to  do  good,  that  his  faults 
disappeared  in  his  excellences ; "  and  it  declares,  that  he 
was  mourned  at  his  death  "  as  the  first  minister  in  Boston ; 
the  first  in  age,  in  gifts,  and  in  grace ;  the  first  in  all  the 
provinces  of  New  England  for  universal  literature  and 
extensive  services."  * 

*  Colman,  Prince,  Gee,  and  others.  I  cannot  believe  that  the  descrip- 
tion given  of  him  by  good  men  is  so  unlike  the  original  as  to  involve 
absurdity,  as  -ffell  as  falsehood.  Mr.  Gee  says,  "  He  was  bright  among  the 
excellent  of  the  earth.  The  whole  land  has  lost  a  very  considerable  part 
of  its  strength  and  glory.     Truth  and  justice  have  lost  a  champion  who  was 

15 


114  HISTORY     OF 

The  ministry  of  Cotton  Mather  ran  parallel  with  that 
of  his  father,  from  the  time  of  his  settlement  as  colleague, 
May  13,  1685,  till  the  death  of  the  latter,  Aug.  23,  1723,  — 
a  period  of  thirty-nine  years.  He  survived  his  father  till 
February  13,  1728,  —  only  four  years  and  a  half ;  having 
been  pastor  of  this  church  forty-four  years.  During  this 
period,  the  society  enjoyed  uninterrupted  prosperity,  the 
congregation  was  very  numerous,  and  multitudes  were 
added  to  the  church.  If  an  eminently  successful  ministry, 
a  crowded  audience,  the  strong  and  unabated  attachment 

able  to  defend  and  maintain  them.  Learning  hath  lost  an  eminent  patron, 
who  wasj  ever  ready  to  promote  it.  The  churches  have  lost  a  pastor  who 
was  a  pillar  in  the  house  of  his  God.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  his  equal 
among  men  of  like  passions  with  us.  He  was  pious  without  pretence,  serious 
without  moroseness,  grave  but  not  austere,  affable  without  meanness,  and 
facetious  without  levity.  He  was  peaceable  in  his  temper,  but  zealous 
against  sin.  He  was  catholic  in  his  charity,  abundant  in  his  liberality,  and 
obliging  to  strangers,  though  often  ill  requited."  He  speaks  most  plainly  of  his 
revilers,  and  rebukes  them  boldly  and  sharply.  He  calls  them  "  that  herd  of 
abandoned  mortals  whose  sport  it  has  been  to  reek  their  venom  upon  a  faithful  ser- 
vant of  God,  in  profane  and  ungodly  scorn  and  derision ; "  and  then,  turning  his 
discourse  to  them,  he  bids  them  "  mourn  for  the  hardness  of  their  hearts, 
and  repent  and  bewail  their  abuse."  Mr.  Gee  would  not  have  dared  to  have 
thus  challenged  and  rebuked  his  accusers,  unless  he  knew  well  that  they 
deserved  it,  and  felt  confident  that  Cotton  Mather  had  been  injured.  I 
think  that  we  are  bound,  after  reading  such  words  as  these,  not  to  attach  too 
much  weight  to  the  statements  of  those  who  were  hostile  to  our  minister. 

I  have  not  spoken  particularly  of  Cotton  Mather's  writings,  and  have 
necessarily  left  many  facts  of  his  history  untouched.  He  published  three 
hundred  and  eighty-two  books,  and  left  others  in  manuscript.  Of  the  lat- 
ter, the  most  important  and  ponderous  is  a  work  on  which  he  was  employed 
for  about  twenty  years,  —  Biblia  Americana,  —  illustrative  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments.  It  is  in  the  library  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
Proposals  were  issued  for  its  publication,  in  three  volumes,  folio,  after  his 
death ;  but  sufficient  encouragement  could  not  be  obtained.  It  is  a  work 
of  immense  learning  and  labor. 

For  further  notice  of  his  writings,  style,  &c.  sec  Appendix  E. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  115 

of  a  large  congregation,  the  steady  enlargement  of  a  church, 
benevolent  activity,*  and  a  general  and  constant  improve- 
ment of  the  ordinances  on  the  part  of  a  people,  are  any 
proofs  of  piety,  ability,  and  faithfulness  in  a  religious 
teacher,  or  give  him  any  claim  to  respect,  —  the  name 
of  Mather  richly  deserves  to  be  mentioned  with  reverence 
in  the  church  with  whose  best  days  it  is  associated,  and 
whose  history  it  has  made  illustrious. 

Cotton  Mather  was  alone  in  the  care  of  the  church,  only 
four  months  after  the  death  of  his  father.  Joshua  Gee,  a 
son  of  the  Second  Church,  educated  under  the  care  of  its 
venerable  minister,  and  one  after  his  own  heart,  was  chosen 
TO  be  his  colleague,  and  ordained,  Dec.  18,  1723.  Mr.  Gee 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1717,  and  was 
regarded  as  a  young  man  of  unusual  promise.  Before 
receiving  the  call  of  this  church,  he  had  attracted  some 
notice,  and  been  invited  to  settle  in  Portsmouth,  N.H.  His 
talents  were  of  a  high  order,  and  qualified  him  to  exert  a 
commanding  influence.  All  who  have  spoken  of  him  bear 
testimony  to  his  powerful  intellect,  his  profound  learning, 
and  his  extraordinary  ability  as  a  logician.  Though  not 
calculated  to  win  popularity,  he  could  easily  command 
respect  by  the  force  of  his  arguments,  the  weight  of  his 


*  Some  idea  of  the  number  and  variety  of  the  charitable  operations  to 
which  Cotton  Mather  prompted  his  parishioners  may  be  formed  from  the 
frequency  and  amount  of  contributions.  Mr.  Ware  has  noticed  the  follow- 
ing in  one  year :  £62,  for  redeeming  captives  from  the  Indians ;  £.53,  for 
redeeming  two  persons  from  Turkish  captivity ;  £80,  for  relieving  three 
young  men  from  the  same ;  Lii,  for  relief  of  poor  inhabitants  of  frontier 
towns  in  the  East ;  £53,  on  Fast-day,  for  the  poor  ;  and  £60,  at  Thanksgiv- 
ing, for  propagating  the  gospel. 


116  HISTORY     OF 

thoughts,  and  a  certain  natural  superiority  which  appears 
to  have  impressed  itself  upon  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
him.  It  is  said,  "that  he  was  capable  of  rising  to  any 
height  of  excellence  ;  but,  unhappily,  he  was  of  an  indolent 
habit,  which  prevented  him  from  making  that  use  of  his 
advantages  which  would  have  secured  to  him  the  ascen- 
dency for  which  he  seems  to  have  been  formed."  He  was 
a  high  Calvinist,  and  full  of  zeal,  not  always  tempered  by 
charity  or  controlled  by  discretion.  He  took  a  leading  part 
in  the  theological  controversies  of  his  day.  "  He  was  an 
earnest  promoter  of  the  religious  excitement  which  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  country  after  Whitfield's  first  visit ; 
and  refused  to  open  his  eyes  to  the  evils  which  attended  it, 
even  after  many  of  its  friends  had  become  convinced  of 
their  existence."  His  great  fondness  for  "  revivals  "  led 
him  to  multiply  prayer-meetings  in  his  own  church,  and 
involved  him,  with  others,  in  a  serious  contention  with  a 
majority  of  the  congregational  clergy  of  Massachusetts. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Convention,  in  Boston,  in 
1743,  that  body  felt  called  upon  to  take  notice  of  the  exten- 
sive disorders  which  had  grown  out  of  the  religious  excite- 
ment above  alluded  to,  and  published  a  "  Testimony 
against  several  ei-rors  of  doctrine  and  evils  of  practice 
which  have  of  late  obtained  in  various  parts  of  the  land." 
Mr.  Gee  replied  to  this  in  a  letter  to  Rev.  Nathaniel  Eells, 
Moderator  of  the  Convention ;  complaining  of  the  false 
impression  the  pamphlet  was  likely  to  produce  as  to  the 
state  of  the  churches,  and  that  no  testimony  had  been 
allowed  in  favor  of  revivals ;  and  calling  another  meet- 
ing of  ministers,  for  the  day  succeeding  the  Commence- 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  117 

meiit  at  Cambridge,  then  held  in  July.  The  proposed 
meeting  took  place,  and  prepared  another  "  Testimony 
to  the  Churches,"  giving  a  favorable  representation  of  the 
late  revivals  ;  but  acknowledging  the  evils  and  dangers  that 
attended  them,  and  warning  the  churches  against  them,  as 
well  as  against  "  itinerancy,  and  the  intruding  into  parishes 
without  the  consent  of  their  ministers."  To  this  document 
were  affixed  the  signatures  of  sixty-eight  ministers,  to- 
gether with  the  separate  testimonies  of  forty-three  others, 
added  in  appendix  ;  making  the  whole  number  of  names 
one  hundred  and  eleven.  "  Gee's  attack  upon  the  Conven- 
tion was  answered  very  satisfactorily  by  Mr.  Prescott,  of 
Salem,  and  Mr.  Hancock,  of  Braintree ;  who  make  it  evi- 
dent that  he  wrote  in  great  hastiness  of  temper,  and  under 
the  influence  of  what  he  regarded  a  personal  affi-ont.  They 
prove  several  of  his  statements  to  be  incorrect,  and  com- 
pletely defend  the  doings  of  the  Convention.  Dr.  Chaun- 
cy,  who  had  been  personally  assailed  by  Mr.  Gee,  defended 
himself  in  a  letter  published  in  the  '  Boston  Evening 
Post '  of  June  24 ;  and  Mr.  Gee,  according  to  Mr.  Han- 
cock, retracted. 

"  Another  meeting  of  the  '  Assembly '  was  held  in  Sep- 
tember, 1745  ;  when  a  further  defence  w^as  attempted  of 
the  religious  excitements  of  the  country.  This  second 
'  Testimony '  was  signed  by  Prince,  Webb,  and  Gee,  of 
Boston,  and  twenty-one  others.  There  were  also  pub- 
lished, in  this  feverish  season,  two  '  Testimonies  '  of 
laymen,  against  the  prevalent  evils  of  the  churches."  * 

*  Note  to  Mr.  \V .ire's  Historical  Sermon. 


118  HISTORY     OF 

« 

The  remark  of  Dr.  Chauncy  has  been  often  quoted, 
with  reference  to  Mr.  Gee :  "  It  was  happy  Mr.  Gee  had  an 
indolent  turn ;  for,  with  such  fiery  zeal  and  such  talents,  he 
would  have  made  continual  confusion  in  the  churches." 
It  is  also  said  of  him,  that  he  enjoyed,  more  than  any  thing 
else,  to  sit  down  and  talk  with  his  friends,  and  talked 
admirably  well.  His  power  seemed  to  show  itself  best 
when  there  was  no  call  for  exertion ;  for  he  rather  shrunk 
from  w^orking ;  though,  when  he  set  about  it,  he  could 
accomplish  as  much  as  any  man.  This  combination  of 
ardent,  even  rash  zeal,  and  great  natural  force,  with  an 
indisposition  to  exertion,  is  sometimes  met  with ;  though  it 
would  appear,  at  first  thought,  to  be  unnatural  and  incon- 
sistent. 

It  is  evident,  from  repeated  votes  and  other  expressions 
in  the  church-books,  that  there  was  a  very  strong  attach- 
ment felt  for  Mr.  Gee  by  his  parishioners.  They  seem  to 
have  been  quite  generous  in  their  pecuniary  bestowments  ; 
not  only,  from  time  to  time,  increasing  by  small  sums  his 
salary,  which  was  paid  weekly,  but  adding  to  his  allowance 
for  rent  and  for  fuel,  and  making  presents  of  considerable 
value  from  the  "  church-stock."  *  His  health  appears  not 
to  have  been  good,  as  early  as  1731 ;  at  which  time  he  asks 


*  Such  votes  as  the  following  are  of  not  infrequent  occurrence :  — 
"  18  Nov.  1729.  Voted,  that,  in  consideration  of  the  dearness  of  all  neces- 
saries of  life,  there  be  a  present  of  sixty  pounds  now  made  to  the  Rev.  Jo- 
shua Gee,  our  pastor,  out  of  the  money  in  the  church's  stock.  Also  voted, 
that  an  addition  of  five  shillings  per  week  be  made  to  Mr.  Gee's  salary,  so 
as  to  make  it  up  four  pounds  ten  shillings  per  week.  Also  voted,  that  an 
addition  of  ten  pounds  be  made  to  the  thirty  pounds  formerly  allowed  to 
provide  Mr.  Gcc  with  firewood,  for  the  year  current,  beginning  the  first  of 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  119 

to  have  assistance  in  administering  the  communion  when 
he  may  be  feeble,  and  to  have  measm-es  taken  for  the  sup- 
ply of  the  pulpit.  It  is  possible  that  the  indolence  with 
which  he  is  charged  may  have  been  in  part  the  lassitude 
arising  from  physical  weakness,  for  which  every  one  who 
has  experienced  it,  and  struggled  against  it,  will  be  willing 
to  make  liberal  allowance.  The  church  readily  assented 
to  his  proposal  for  assistance.  They  voted  to  choose 
three  persons,  to  preach  in  succession,  each  of  them  four 
weeks,  evidently  with  a  view  to  the  choice  of  a  colleague. 
From  this  time  forward,  I  judge  that  Mr.  Gee  preached 
but  a  comparatively  small  part  of  the  time.  The  three 
persons  first  selected  were  Samuel  Mather,  Daniel  Rogers, 
and  Mather  Byles.*  As  soon  as  they  had  completed  their 
engagement,  it  was  again  agreed  to  chose  two,  to  preach 
in  turn  four  sabbaths  apiece.  This  time,  the  choice  fell 
upon  Stephen  Sewall  and  Samuel  Mather.  When  they 
had  finished,  the  church  voted  to  appoint  "  the  Tuesday 
following  the  eighth  Lord's  day  to  come  to  be  observed  as 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  to  implore  the  gracious  pre- 
sence of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  to  guide  them  in 
the  choice  of   a    pastor ;   and  the   Friday  following   said 

May  last.     [N.B.     Drawn    up  by  the  Hon.  Adam  "Winthrop,  Esq.  in  the 
pastor's  absence.] " 

His  salary  was  afterwards  increased  to  eight  pounds  a  week ;  and,  when 
he  was  alone  in  the  care  of  the  church,  three  pounds  were  allowed  him 
weekly,  to  supply  his  pulpit,  as  he  might  feel  it  to  be  necessary  for  his 
relief. 

*  Grandson  of  Increase  IMather,  by  whom  he  was  greatly  beloved. 
See  Increase  Mather's  will,  in  Appendix.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Second 
Church,  and  by  vote,  Dec.  10,  1732,  was  "dismissed  to  the  new  church,  in 
HoUis-street,  that  he  might  be  ordained  its  pastor." 


120  HISTORY     OF 

Tuesday,  for  a  meeting  to  proceed  to  the  choice."  In  the 
meantime,  they  agreed  to  divide  the  intervening  sabbaths 
between  Samuel  Mather  and  Mather  Byles.  On  the  ap- 
pointed day,  Jan.  28,  1732,  Samuel  Mather  was  chosen  by 
sixty-nine  votes  out  of  one  hundred  and  twelve. 

His  ordination  as  colleague  took  place  the  twenty-first 
of  the  following  June,  about  four  years  after  his  father's 
death.  "  He  was  recommended  to  the  church,  not  only  by 
their  respect  for  the  ancient  family,  but  by  his  own  charac- 
ter for  diligence,  zeal,  and  learning,  of  which  he  certainly 
possessed  an  uncommon  share.  He  had  already  made 
himself  known  at  home  and  abroad  by  several  publica- 
tions." After  he  had  continued  colleague-pastor  for  nine 
years,  a  serious  difficulty  arose  between  himself  and  a 
majority  of  the  church,  as  well  as  between  himself  and  Mr. 
Gee.  The  affair,  as  represented  in  church -papers  which 
have  been  recently  discovered,  was  not  so  creditable  to  Mr. 
Mather  as  we  might  desire.  Regard  to  truth  compels  me 
to  notice  these  records ;  though  I  would  prefer  to  cast  a 
deep  veil  over  the  whole  matter.  There  is  nothing  in  the 
whole  history  that  leaves  a  stain  upon  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Gee. 

It  appears  that  many  of  the  church,  together  with  Mr. 
Gee,  were  dissatisfied  with  Mr.  Mather,  partly  on  account 
of  what  they  considered  the  looseness  of  his  doctrines,  and 
partly  on  account  of  suspicions  and  charges  of  impropriety 
of  conduct  which  were  current  against  him.  Mr.  Mather, 
on  finding  that  such  a  state  of  things  existed,  asked  a  dis- 
mission. The  church  refused  to  grant  it,  and  proceeded 
to  an   investigation   of  the  charges.      Not    being    able   to 


THE    SECOND     CHURCH.  121 

agree  as  to  the  truth  of  the  accusations,  or  to  bring  about 
any  satisfactory  issue,  they  called  in  the  aid  of  an  eccle- 
siastical council.  The  churches  invited  to  form  the  council 
were  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colman's,  Dr.  Sewall's,  Mr.  Webb's,  Mr. 
Foxcroft's,  and  Mr.  Checkley's.  So  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained from  various  sources,  —  for  the  matter  is  not  clearly 
stated  on  the  church-records,  —  the  council  held  two  meet- 
ings. The  result  of  the  first  was  a  letter  of  advice  to  the 
church,  on  one  part,  and  Mr.  Mather,  on  the  other,  as  to 
their  several  duties  till  the  time  to  which  the  council 
adjourned ;  perhaps  with  the  hope,  that,  before  the  ad- 
journed meeting,  the  difficulty  might  be  healed.  The  tenor 
of  this  advice  may  be  gathered  from  the  agreement  of  both 
parties,  as  recorded  on  our  books.  The  church  vote,  that, 
upon  the  supposition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mather's  compliance 
with  the  advice  given  to  him,  they  purpose,  by  the  will  of 
God,  to  comply  with  the  advice  given  to  them ;  that  is,  "  to 
attend  upon  his  ministry,  and  strive  to  effect  a  reconcilia- 
tion, until  the  time  to  which  the  council  is  adjourned."  Then 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Mather  gave  in  a  declaration  of  his  resolved 
endeavors  for  a  compliance  with  the  advice  given  to  him 
by  the  said  venerable  council,  in  several  articles,  as  follows : 

"1.  I  shall  endeavor,  according  to  the  advice  given,  to 
use  all  proper  means  to  get  my  mind  further  enlightened 
and  settled  in  the  important  points  mentioned  by  the 
council,  and  to  discover  the  same  in  preaching  and  conver- 
sation. 

"  2.  I  shall  endeavor  to  be  more  frequent  and  distinct 
in  preaching  on  the  nature,  and  pressing  the  necessity,  of 
regeneration  by  the  Spirit  of  grace. 
16 


122  HISTORY     OF 

"  3.  I  shall  endeavor  to  beware  of  any  thing  in  my 
sermons  or  conversation  which  may  tend  to  discourage 
the  work  of  conviction  and  conversion  among  us.  I  shall 
be  cautious  and  watchful  in  this  respect;  and,  in  public 
and  private,  encourage  the  said  good  work  of  God. 

"4.  With  respect  to  the  grounds  of  fear  and  jealousy 
concerning  me,  I  desire  to  judge  and  humble  myself  before 
the  Lord,  and  would  with  condescension  and  meekness 
endeavor  the  minds  of  my  brethren  may  be  reconciled 
and  healed,  and  for  the  future  would  walk  before  my 
brethren  with  the  humility  required  in  the  gospel,  and 
with  becoming  circumspection. 

"  Lastly,  I  resolve,  by  the  Divine  help,  to  comply  with 
all  the  advice  above  mentioned." 

But  this  prospect  of  harmony  was  soon  clouded.  The 
church  voted,  that  Mr.  Mather  had  not  satisfactorily  per- 
formed his  engagement  to  comply  with  the  advice  of  the 
ministers.  The  adjourned  meeting  of  the  councU  was 
held.  The  church  were  advised  to  dismiss  Mr.  Mather, 
and  to  continue  his  salary  for  one  year ;  the  ministers  very 
generously  offering  to  give  their  services  in  preaching  as 
often  as  they  might  be  requested,  in  order  to  encourage 
and  help  the  church  to  bear  this  pecuniary  burden.  Mr. 
Mather  being  dismissed,  thirty  men  and  sixty-three  women, 
members  of  the  church,  who  were  his  friends,  withdrew 
with  him ;  the  number  that  remained  with  Mr.  Gee  being 
eighty  men  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  women. 
The  separated  party,  with  Mr.  Mather,  afterwards  sent  a 
letter  to  the  church,  offering  to  return ;  or,  if  not  allowed 
to  do  so,  expressing  their  conscientious  purpose  to  build 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  123 

a  new  meeting-house.  The  church  voted  that  their  return, 
and  the  re-settlement  of  Mr.  Mather,  would  not  be  consis- 
tent with  the  peace  and  edification  of  the  church.  Where- 
upon they  proceeded  immediately  to  erect  a  church  in 
Hanover-street,  at  the  corner  of  North  Bennet,  where  the 
Universalist  Church  now  stands.  The  fact  that  so  many 
persons  of  good  character  supported  Mr.  Mather,  and 
undertook  the  arduous  and  expensive  work  of  building 
a  new  church  to  sustain  him,  would  seem  to  aiford  good 
reason  to  doubt  whether  the  charges  of  impropriety  were 
well  founded.  From  the  period  of  his  dismission,  Dec.  21, 
1741,  till  his  death,  June  27,  1785,  he  continued  to  be  the 
minister  of  a  separate  congregation,  most  of  the  members 
of  which,  at  his  decease,  returned  to  the  Second  Church. 

From  the  removal  of  Mr.  Mather,  Mr.  Gee  continued 
sole  minister  of  the  church  till  Sept.  3, 1747 ;  at  which  date, 
Samuel  Checkley  was  ordained  as  his  assistant.  The 
health  of  Mr.  Gee,  however,  had  long  been  declining ;  and, 
before  a  year  had  elapsed  from  the  settlement  of  his  col- 
league, the  church  was  in  mourning  for  his  death,  in  the 
fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty-fifth  of  his  minis- 
try. While  under  his  charge,  the  church  sustained,  in  a 
great  measure,  the  high  position  which  it  had  acquired 
through  the  distinguished  services  of  his  predecessors.  It 
was  continually  applied  to  for  advice  and  assistance  by 
other  churches  in  their  difficulties,  and  took  a  leading  part 
in  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  New  England. 

I  ought  not  to  forget  to  acknowledge  an  important 
obligation  under  which  Mr.  Gee  has  placed  his  successors, 
by  laying  the  foundation  of  a  church  and  pastor's  library. 


124  HISTORY    OF   THE   SECOND    CHURCH. 

"  Mr.  Checkley  was  the  son  of  an  eminent  minister  of 
the  New  South  Church,  and  is  said  to  have  been  distin- 
guished for  a  peculiar  sort  of  eloquence,  and  an  uncommon 
felicity  in  the  devotional  service  of  public  worship.  He 
published  nothing  except  one  sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Lydia  Hutchinson,  and  left  the  records  of  the  church  so 
imperfect,  that  little  can  be  learned  from  them  of  its  state 
and  fortunes  during  his  connection  with  it.  He  died,  after 
a  ministry  of  twenty-one  years,  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1768."  *  The  character  of  his  theological  opinions  may  be 
understood  from  the  vote  passed  by  the  chm'ch  previous 
to  his  call,  that  the  person  whom  they  should  elect  "  shall 
appear  to  the  church  to  be  a  person  of  experimental  piety, 
who  embraces  the  doctrines  of  grace  according  to  the 
gospel,  and  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  churches 
of  New  England,  and  the  discipline  of  Congregational 
Churches,  exhibited  in  our  well-known  platform,  and  the 
propositions  concerning  the  consociation  and  communion 
of  churches." 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that,  in  May,  1760,  the  church 
unanimously  voted,  that  it  "was  reasonable  that  the 
brethren  of  the  congregation  should  unite  with  them  in 
managing  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  society."  This  is 
the  first  distinct  recognition  on  our  records  of  the  right  of 
the  congregation  to  conjoint  action  with  the  church.  The 
majority  of  the  parish  committee  were  to  be  selected  from 
the  church ;  namely,  the  deacons  and  five  of  the  brethren ; 
four  only  of  the  members  being  allowed  to  the  congre- 
gation. 

*  Mr.  Ware's  Historical  Sermon. 


>^  ..^/^M'T^^^Tr^ 


125 


THIED     PERIOD. 


From    the    Ordination    of    Dr.    Lathrop,    1768,   to    18.31. 


JOHN  LATHROP.  —  HENKY  WARE,  Jun.  —  RALPH  WALDO 
EMERSON.  —  CHANDLER  ROBBINS. 

The  first  steps  towards  the  settlement  of  the  next  pastor 
of  the  Second  Church  were  taken  during  the  dangerous 
sickness  of  IVIr.  Checkley,  which  immediately  preceded  his 
death.  It  was  felt  to  be  necessary  that  a  colleague  should 
be  chosen  to  assist  him,  even  in  case  he  should  recover. 
According  to  our  records,  a  meeting  of  the  church  was  held, 
the  10th  of  March,  1768,  to  make  the  preliminary  arrange- 
ments for  the  choice  of  a  suitable  person  to  fill  that  office. 
Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  then  minister  of  the  New  Brick,  was 
invited  to  be  present,  to  assist  the  church  by  his  counsels 
and  prayers.  It  was  found  that  the  thoughts  of  nearly 
all  the  members  both  of  church  and  congregation  were 
fixed  on  Mr.  John  Lathrop,  who  had  been  several  months 
engaged  in  supplying  their  pulpit.  They  were  very  care- 
ful, it  seems,  to  ascertain  his  theological  sentiments,  and  to 
guard  the  church  against  the  danger,  even  then  appre- 
hended, of  departure  from  the  "  doctrines  of  grace,  and 
the  old  form  of  faith  and  discipline  adopted  in  the  New 
England  churches."  The  candidate  was  desired  to  come 
before  them ;  and,  at  their  request,  Dr.  Pemberton  asked 


126  HISTORY     OF 

him  a  variety  of  questions  concerning  his  sentiments 
"  upon  many  of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel."  The 
church  unanimously  declared  themselves  satisfied  with  his 
answers.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  Dr.  Pemberton  read 
Mr.  Lathrop's  confession  of  faith,  and  also  a  certificate 
from  a  number  of  ministers  in  the  county  of  Windham, 
Connecticut,  respecting  Mr.  Lathrop's  qualifications,  and 
recommending  him  to  the  choice  of  any  church  that  might 
call  him.  The  members  of  the  church  then  gave  in  their 
votes,  twenty-five  in  number,  and  all  for  Mr.  Lathrop. 
Subsequently,  the  congregation  and  church,  voting  toge- 
ther, elected  him  unanimously  by  sixty-seven  votes.  The 
ordination  took  place.  May  18,  1768;  the  pastor  elect 
preaching  the  sermon. 

John  Lathrop  was  born.  May  17,  1740,  in  Norwich, 
Conn.  From  his  early  youth  he  was  remarkable  for  those 
excellent  moral  traits  which  distinguished  him  in  after- 
life, and  are  among  the  best  qualifications  for  the  Christian 
ministry.  He  commenced  in  youth  the  study  of  medicine ; 
but  a  stronger  bias  soon  turned  his  thoughts  towards  that 
sacred  office  which  he  was  afterwards  so  usefully  to  fill.* 

The  ministry  of  Dr.  Lathrop  f  was  long,  faithful,  and 
useful.     His  character  has  been  described  with  as  much 

*  He  graduated  at  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey,  1763.  For  a  short 
time  after,  he  was  an  assistant  to  Dr.  Wheelock,  in  Moors'  Indian  School, 
then  kept  at  Lebanon. 

t  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  University  of 
Edinburgh,  in  1784.  This  degree,  as  was  not  unusual  at  the  time,  was 
obtained  by  purchase  by  a  friend  or  friends.  It  was  procured  in  the  same 
way  for  both  the  Drs.  Eliot  and  Dr.  Howard.  The  University  of  Cambridge 
was  not  then  in  the  habit  of  granting  the  degree  of  D.D.  —  Historical  Notices 
of  Neto  North. 


THE     SECOND     CHUKCH.  127 

truth  as  beauty,  by  one  who,  educated  under  his  ministry, 
and  favored  with  ample  opportunities  to  become  acquainted 
with  his  virtues,  was  happily  qualified  to  discharge  the 
duty  of  commemoration  which  appropriately  devolved 
upon  him  from  his  connection  with  a  sister-church.  The 
sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Parkman,  at  his  interment,  has  left 
little  to  be  supplied  by  any  future  biographer.  It  paints 
in  clear  and  simple  colors  his  unfeigned  piety,  his  pure  con- 
scientiousness, his  amiable  temper  and  most  winning  spirit 
of  Christian  love,  his  delightful  candor,  the  tenderness  and 
gentleness  of  his  domestic  affections,  his  serene  dignity,  his 
public  spirit,  his  devoted  attachment  to  liberty,  his  unyield- 
ing defence  of  the  rights  of  conscience,  his  energy  and  firm- 
ness when  the  cause  of  truth  demanded  or  the  public  good 
required,  and  his  beautiful  resignation  and  triumphant 
composure  in  the  hour  of  death. 

His  light  shone  with  a  mild  and  steady,  rather  than 
a  brilliant  lustre.  As  a  preacher,  he  instructed,  rather 
than  delighted  ;  wisely  counselled  and  gently  led  his 
hearers,  rather  than  powerfully  moved  them.  Without 
being  remarkable  for  learning,  he  was  respected  for  the 
soundness  of  his  thoughts,  the  weight  of  his  opinions,  and 
the  soberness  of  his  judgment.  Without  extraordinary 
natural  gifts,  he  performed  such  a  multitude  of  useful 
labors,  brought  forth  such  rich  fruits  of  goodness,  and  laid 
upon  his  generation  such  obligations  for  his  various  bene- 
fits, as  would  have  done  honor  to  a  man  of  far  more  exalted 
abilities  and  genius.  There  are  many  among  us  who  can 
distinctly  recall  his  venerable  aspect,  as,  in  his  advanced 
age,  he  stood  in  the  pulpit,  or  walked  through  the  streets 


128  HISTORY     OP 

amidst  respectful  salutations  and  cordial  greetings.  No 
clergyman  of  his  day  is  better  remembered,  and  none  more 
frequently  spoken  of,  or  mentioned  with  greater  reverence 
and  love.  Some  of  you,  my  hearers,  esteem  it  a  privilege 
that  you  were  baptized  by  his  hand,  and  received  a  bene- 
diction in  your  infancy  from  his  saintly  lips.  His  name,  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  city,  is  still  as  a  household  word. 
And  the  descriptions  of  his  venerable  form  and  apostolic 
appearance,  that  have  been  so  often  heard  from  aged  friends 
at  your  firesides,  have  given  shape  and  distinctness  to  his 
image,  even  in  the  minds  of  your  children.  His  aged  body 
moulders  with  the  dust  of  his  loved  companions  in  the  old 
"  Granary  Burying-ground  ;  "  his  virtues  live  in  the  history 
of  this  church  ;  and  his  name  is  still  young  in  the  hearts  of 
rising  generations. 

Dr.  Lathrop's  ministry  covered  the  long  period  of  fifty 
years,  from  his  ordination  to  his  death,  at  an  advanced 
age,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1816.  His  services  of  a  public 
nature  were  extensive ;  and  he  was  honored  with  many 
important  stations  and  trusts.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Corporation  of  Harvard  College  nearly  forty  years,  and  an 
officer  in  most  of  the  important  charitable  and  literary 
societies  of  Massachusetts.  His  doctrinal  views  under- 
went a  gradual  and  material  change  towards  the  close  of 
the  last  century.  At  the  commencement  of  his  ministry, 
his  confession  of  faith  was  in  conformity  to  the  Calvinistic 
sentiments  then  embraced  by  the  Second  Church ;  but,  as 
life  advanced,  he  became  less  and  less  "  orthodox,"  and  — 
without  the  spirit  of  sectarianism,  which  was  contrary  to 
his  natvire  —  lent  his  influence  to  the  "  liberal "  side. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  129 

Dr.  Lathrop  had  been  settled  but  a  few  years  before  the 
war  of  the  American  Revolution  broke  out ;  the  eifect  of 
which  upon  the  destiny  of  the  Second  Church  was  first 
disastrous,  and  afterwards  favorable.  "  From  the  memora- 
■  ble  19th  of  April,  1775,"  writes  Dr.  Lathrop  in  our  church 
records,  "  the  day  on  which  the  British  troops  began  hosti- 
lities in  America,  there  are  no  records  of  the  Old  North 
Church  for  more  than  a  year. 

"  The  town  being  held  as  a  strong  garrison  by  the  Bri- 
tish troops,  and  surrounded  by  a  large  army  of  Americans, 
it  was  found  necessary  for  the  greatest  part  of  the  inhabi"- 
tants  to  go  into  the  country,  not  only  to  escape  the  dangers 
of  war,  but  to  seek  the  means  of  subsistence. 

"  At  this  time,  most  of  the  churches  in  the  town  were 
broken  up ;  and,  while  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  the 
members  in  general  were  dispersed  abroad,  a  number  of 
evil-minded  men,  of  the  king's  party,  obtained  leave  of 
General  Howe  to  pull  down  the  Old  North  Meeting-house, 
under  a  pretence  of  wanting  it  for  fuel,  although  there  were 
then  large  quantities  of  coal  and  wood  in  the  town. 

"  The  house,  which  was  built  in  1677,  was  in  very  good 
repair,  and  might  have  stood  many  years  longer,  had  not 
those  sons  of  violence,  with  wicked  hands,  razed  it  to  the 
foundation. 

"  On  the  17th  of  March,  1776,  the  king's  troops  eva- 
cuated the  town ;  and  the  Americans,  under  the  brave 
General  Washington,  took  possession." 

The  inhabitants  came  back  with  mingled  emotions  of 
rejoicing  and  sadness,  —  glad  once  more  to  occupy  unmo- 
lested then*  beloved  homes,  and  pay  then-  vows  in  their 
17 


130  HISTORY     OF 

venerated  temples ;  whilst,  with  a  melancholy  cm-iosity  and 
just  indignation,  they  surveyed  the  marks  of  violence  and 
ruin  which  hostile  hands  had  left  upon  their  fair  inheri- 
tance. But  the  hearts  of  none  of  them  were  more  op- 
pressed with  gloom  than  those  of  the  former  members  of 
the  Second  Church,  when,  revisiting  the  site  of  their  ancient 
sanctuary,  they  found  nothing  in  its  place  but  a  heap  of 
ruins.  It  happened,  however,  fortunately  for  them  that  a 
neighboring  society  was  able  and  ready  to  offer  them  ample 
accommodation.  The  New  Brick  Church,  as  it  was  called, 
whose  building  was  then,  and  until  within  a  few  years 
past,  standing  in  Hanover-street,  *  having  lost  a  large  num- 
ber of  its  members,  and  being  under  the  care  of  an  infirm 
and  aged  minister,  Dr.  Pemberton,  very  gladly  extended  its 
hospitality  to  Dr.  Lathrop  and  his  parishioners.  The  two 
societies  commenced  worshipping  together  on  the  31st  of 
March,  1776 ;  and,  on  the  6th  of  May,  1779,  agi-eed  upon 
and  adopted  a  plan  of  perpetual  union,  and  were  thence- 
forth incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Second  Church,  f 
The  ordination  of  Henry  Ware,  jun.,  took  place  on 
the  first  day  of  January,  1817.  Of  him  and  his  ministry 
I  might  forbear  to  speak,  since  I  have  already  laid  my 
wreath  of  love  upon  his  chaste  monument.  It  might  be 
enough  to  say,  that  the  more  sober  judgment  of  maturer 
years  would  not  lead  me  to  qualify  the  warm  eulogium  of 
youth ;  that  advancing  time  and  longer  reflection  have 
only  deepened  the  feeling  of  affectionate  reverence  with 

*  The  History  of  the  New  Brick  Church  will  be  found  in  the  second 
part  of  this  book. 

t  See  Appendix  E. 


floc^u^  nc:^u_^  Jjrr 


THE     SECOND     CHUKCH.  131 

which  I  regarded  him  during  his  life ;  that  his  memory  is 
still  green  in  om-  hearts,  as  it  is  destined,  I  doubt  not,  to 
flourish  so  long  as  virtue  shall  be  honored  or  goodness 
loved. 

I  cannot,  however,  allow  this  history  of  the  church  to 
which  his  name  is  so  dear,  and  his  services  were  so  valua- 
ble, to  go  out  of  my  hands,  without  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
character  and  ministry,  even  at  the  risk  of  repetition ; 
especially  since  it  may  fall  under  the  eye  of  those  who 
have  read  neither  the  charming  memoir  by  his  brother,  nor 
my  own  feebler  biography. 

Henry  Ware,  jun.,  was  born  in  Hingham,  Mass.,  April 
21,  1794.  He  enjoyed  in  infancy  the  nurture  of  a  Chris- 
tian pastor's  home.  The  first  love  of  his  childhood  was 
that  sacred  business  of  his  Father  in  heaven,  in  which  the 
strength  of  his  prime  was  spent,  and  to  which  his  latest 
affections  clung.  The  most  intimate  companions  of  his 
early  days  can  recollect  no  period  of  his  life  when  the  office 
of  the  Christian  ministry  was  not  his  ruling  desire  and 
aim.  He  seemed  to  regard  himself,  like  some  prophet  of 
old,  to  have  been  consecrated  from  his  birth  to  the  service 
of  the  Temple.  This  sacred  purpose  stamped  the  charac- 
ter of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  His  feelings  and  actions 
were  to  a  remarkable  degree  consistent  with  it.  His  lips 
refrained  from  impure  and  irreverent  speech.  His  taste 
revolted  at  every  shape  of  iniquity.  He  washed  his  hands 
in  innocency.  He  entered  not  in  unholy  paths,  but  turned 
from  them  and  passed  away. 

This  pure  boyhood., — this  unspotted  youth,  —  what  a  fit 
and  beautiful  foundation  for  a  holy  priesthood !     Through 


132  HISTORY     OF 

such  a  path,  he  ascended  at  length  into  the  hill  of  the 
Lord,  and  stood  in  his  holy  place.  Through  such  stages 
of  early  preparation,  my  friends,  the  unseen  hand  of  Provi- 
dence led  him  along,  until  his  feet  rested  at  your  own  altar, 
and  his  unstained  hands  were  appointed  to  break  to  you 
the  holy  bread.  How  favored  the  church  that  had  the 
best  prayers  and  choicest  labors  of  such  a  minister  I  How 
happy  the  minister  who  could  look  back  upon  such  a 
blameless  life ! 

The  New  Year's  day  on  which  his  ministry  in  this 
church  began  will  ever  be  a  memorable  era  in  its  history. 
Entering  upon  his  arduous  work  with  no  startling  exhibi- 
tions of  eloquence  or  zeal,  with  no  straining  for  sudden 
effect,  but  with  a  devoted  purpose  to  be  laborious  and 
faithful,  and  a  single  eye  to  the  sacred  objects  of  the 
ministry,  the  first-fruits  of  his  well-sustained  efforts  gra- 
dually and  steadily  ripened  around  him.  The  spiritual 
and  external  interests  of  the  parish  advanced  with  a 
regular  and  healthy  growth.  Another  golden  age,  like 
that  which  it  had  enjoyed  under  the  first  of  the  Mathers, 
dawned  upon  the  prospects  of  the  church.  The  throng  of 
worshippers  swelled  from  sabbath  to  sabbath.  The  influ- 
ence of  the  pulpit  became  more  powerful  and  deep.  The 
aged  more  frequently  dignified  the  congregation  with  their 
silvery  crowns,  and  the  young  enlivened  it  with  their 
blooming  brows.  The  ordinances  rejoiced  and  shed  abroad 
their  divinest  odors.  The  beautiful  bands  of  love  and 
peace  spread  and  strengthened  from  heart  to  heart.  The 
joyous  cry  of  Christian  activity  went  round.  The  holy 
vine  grew  verdant  in  all  its  branches. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  133 

I  believe  that  there  could  not  have  been  found,  at  the 
period  to  which  I  refer,  a  parish  more  prosperous,  or  a 
ministry  more  effective,  than  his.  There  were  more  splen- 
did edifices  than  those  old  walls,  which  loved  the  echoes 
of  his  impressive  voice.  There  were  more  wealthy  and 
fashionable  and  highly  cultivated  congregations  than  that 
which  gathered  around  him,  with  attentive  faces  and  cap- 
tivated hearts.  There  were  more  graceful  rhetoricians, 
and  more  learned  theologians,  occupying  the  sacred  desk. 
But  where  was  there  a  temple  more  fragrant  with  the 
breath  of  devotion,  more  beautiful  with  the  spiritual  adorn- 
ings  of  holiness  and  peace  ?  Where  was  there  a  society 
more  harmonious  or  more  engaged  ?  And  where  was  the 
preacher  whose  whole  air  and  action  and  tones  were  more 
suited  to  the  messages  of  Heaven,  or  whose  discourses 
and  prayers  had  more  moral  and  spiritual  effect? 

The  flower  of  Mr.  Ware's  affections,  and  the  best  fruits 
of  his  labors,  were  consecrated  to  his  own  society.  But 
his  influence  and  energies,  though  concentrated  upon  this 
parish,  were  not  restricted  within  its  limits.  The  only 
horizon  which  bounded  his  benevolence  was  the  broad 
circle  of  human  want.  The  only  fetter  which  his  virtuous 
activity  could  brook  was  the  strong  chain  of  necessity, 
fastened  to  us  by  Him  who  wisely  limited  the  faculties 
of  man,  —  who  gave  to  the  largest  souls  as  feeble  bodies 
as  the  rest,  that  they  might  learn  to  be  patient  and  humble. 
Every  valuable  enterprise  of  the  Christian  body  to  which 
he  belonged,  if  it  did  not  originate  with  his  active  spirit, 
was  quickened  by  his  zeal,  or  directed  by  his  wisdom.  Of 
the  American   Unitarian    Association   he  was  one  of  the 


134  HISTORY     OF 

founders ;  and  for  eleven  years,  as  Foreign  Secretary  or  on 
the  Executive  Committee,  a  laborious  officer.  The  Evan- 
gelical Missionary  Society  is  to  no  individual  so  greatly 
indebted,  whether  for  the  constancy  of  his  support,  or  the 
amount  of  his  collections.  Of  the  ministry  at  large  in 
this  city,  though  others  may  have  the  praise,  Mr.  Ware 
is  virtually  the  father. 

But  to  enumerate  all  the  religious  associations  of  which 
he  was  a  member  would  be  but  to  exhaust  their  catalogue. 
The  cause  of  Peace  found  in  him  a  kindred  spirit  and  a 
fervid  tongue.  The  cause  of  Freedom  was  near  to  his 
heart ;  and,  if  some  of  its  more  ardent  votaries  had,  years 
ago,  listened  to  the  suggestions  of  meek  wisdom  and  con- 
siderate charity  which  he  offered  to  bring  to  their  conven- 
tions, it  is  my  firm  conviction,  that  the  evil  which  they 
oppose  would  have  been  at  this  day  nearer  to  its  end.  To 
the  greatest  reform  of  the  age  he  gave  his  strong  and  un- 
deviating  aid  ;  an  aid,  the  value  of  which  may  be  illustrated 
by  the  fact,  that  the  tivelfth  thousand  of  his  Discourse  on 
Temperance,  which  had  an  extensive  circulation  in  this 
country,  was  for  sale  in  the  capital  of  the  British  empire. 
The  interests  of  Education  also  were  not  only  fostered 
by  his  favoring  words,  but  substantially  advanced  by  his 
writings  and  his  labors. 

In  fine,  his  heart  had  a  warm  pulse  for  every  claim  of 
charity.  His  lips  had  a  tone  of  truthful  and  earnest  elo- 
quence for  every  need  of  man.  His  feet  were  never  weary 
of  running  on  missions  of  mercy.  He  never  withheld  his 
hands  from  any  work  of  love,  when  it  was  in  their  power  to 
it.     No  thought  of  himself  enticed  him  from  the  sacrifices 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  135 

of  kindness.  The  fatigues  of  benevolence  were  the  exhila- 
ration of  his  days ;  the  weariness  of  duty,  the  anodyne  of 
his  nights. 

But  the  aggregated  labors  of  love,  which  his  spirit 
courted,  were  too  heavy  a  load  for  the  flesh  to  bear.  In- 
deed the  body  would  have  sooner  given  way  beneath  it,  but 
for  the  sincere  delight  which  its  pressure  gave  to  his  heart. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1828,  Mr.  Ware's  health, 
which  had  for  a  long  time  given  signs  of  failure,  began 
seriously  to  decline.  The  fears  of  the  parish  were  excited, 
and  its  sympathy  manifested  by  every  indulgence  it  could 
render.  But  his  disease  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
satisfy  him  that  he  must  relinquish  his  duties  for  many 
months,  and  to  cause  some  apprehensions  that  he  might  be 
taken  from  them  for  ever.  Under  these  circumstances,  he 
addressed  a  letter  to  his  parishioners  on  the  last  Sunday  of 
the  year  1828,  the  twelfth  year  of  his  ministry,  tendering  the 
resignation  of  his  office,  and  asking  that  their  connection 
might  be  immediately  dissolved.  "  I  feel,"  he  says,  "  that 
I  ought  to  hesitate  no  longer.  I  ought  to  relieve  you  from 
the  uncertainty  and  trials  of  your  present  condition.  And 
I  ought  to  relieve  myself  from  those  solicitudes  on  your 
behalf,  which  do  not  avail  to  your  benefit,  and  which  are 
unfavorable  to  my  own  restoration  to  strength.  In  doing 
this,  I  perform  one  of  the  most  painful  acts  of  my  life.  My 
situation  has  satisfied  every  wish  of  my  heart.  Other  men 
may  have  labored  more  faithfully  and  successfully ;  but 
no  one  can  ever  have  looked  back  upon  twelve  years  of  a 
happier  connection." 

This  communication  was  received,  as  the  records  of  the 


136  HISTORY     OF 

parish  certify,  with  "  excited  feelings  of  deep  sympathy, 
regret,  and  disappointed  hopes."  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  take  it  into  consideration.  Their  report  unani- 
mously recommended,  "  that  our  pastor  be  desired  to  remain 
with  us ;  and  that  measures  be  taken  for  the  choice  of  some 
person  of  piety  and  ability,  in  whom  we  may  unite,  to  be 
his  colleague ;  to  assist  him  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties, 
and  share  with  him  the  burdens  of  his  office." 

The  recommendation  of  the  committee  was  sanctioned 
by  the  parish,  and  cordially  approved  by  Mr.  Ware ;  and, 
on  the  11th  of  January,  1829,  the  office  of  colleague  was 
filled  by  the  election  of  Mi-.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  who 
received  ordination  on  the  11th  of,  the  following  March. 
About  this  time,  Mr.  Ware  received  from  the  corporation 
of  Harvard  University  an  appointment  to  the  professorship 
of  pulpit  eloquence  and  the  pastoral  care,  —  a  professorship 
founded  by  the  subscriptions  of  individuals,  as  much  out 
of  respect  to  the  proposed  incumbent,  as  for  the  sake  of  the 
benefits  of  such  an  office. 

From  the  spring  of  1829  to  the  summer  of  1830,  Mr. 
Ware  was  travelling  in  Europe.  It  was  a  tour,  not  of 
relaxation  only,  but  of  rich  improvement  to  his  mind  and 
heart.  Nearly  his  whole  pathway  through  foreign  lands 
was  smoothed  by  kindness,  and  enlivened  by  hospitality. 
The  homes  of  strangers  were  opened  to  him  in  his  absence 
from  his  own.  New  friendships  were  established  in  almost 
every  city  and  town  in  which  he  tarried,  —  friendships, 
some  of  which  were  afterwards  continued  across  the  ocean, 
and  will  be  renewed  beyond  the  grave. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  Europe,  Mr.  Ware  entered 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  137 

upon  his  new  office  at  Cambridge,  and  tendered  his  re- 
signation to  his  parish  with  the  strongest  expressions  of 
gratitude  for  their  kindness,  and  of  interest  in  their  future 
well-being ;  and  a  vote  was  passed,  with  a  full  response  of 
esteem  and  love,  dissolving  the  pastoral  connection  from 
and  after  the  third  day  of  October,  1830.  So  closed  that 
sacred,  that  happy  relation. 

But  at  Cambridge,  as  well  as  in  Boston,  it  was  the  lot 
of  Mr.  Ware  to  be  overburdened  with  useful  occupations, 
partly  of  his  own  seeking,  but  partly  also  by  the  inconsi- 
deration  and  importunity  of  others,  till  flesh  and  heart  sunk 
under  their  number  and  variety. 

Mr.  Ware  remained  at  Cambridge  till  the  summer  of 
1842.  At  that  time,  hopeless  of  being  able  to  continue  his 
duties,  he  sought,  but  too  late,  for  a  home  of  quiet  and 
peace  in  the  retirement  of  the  country.  A  kind  Hand  led 
him  to  a  spot  in  every  respect  suited  to  his  taste  and  his 
want ;  whither  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  God  had  guided 
him  at  length,  through  floods  and  over  rough  places,  to 
find  a  resting-place  for  his  weary  feet  beneath  the  olive- 
shade  for  which  he  had  longed. 

Yet  even  here  he  was  not  idle.  From  his  retreat,  he 
looked  out  with  an  interested  eye  upon  the  movements  of 
the  busy  world  he  had  left  behind  him.  Thoughts  and 
plans  of  benevolence  and  usefulness  floated  through  his 
tranquil  mind.  His  pen  also  found  employment  suited  to 
the  quietness  of  his  environment  and  his  peaceful  feelings, 
in  portraying  the  character,  and  tracing  the  calm  and  holy 
life,  of  the  late  venerable  Dr.  Worcester,  who  has  been  so 
appropriately  named  the  "  Apostle  of  Peace."  The  con- 
18 


138  HISTORY     OF 

cerns  of  the  churches,  in  whose  behalf  he  had  so  long 
labored,  were  not  neglected  ;  nor  were  the  counsels  which 
were  always  so  much  sought  after  and  valued  by  his  bre- 
thren withholden. 

But  a  gentle  Shepherd  was  leading  him,  in  a  steady 
advance,  through  green  pastures,  and  by  the  side  of  still 
waters,  down  into  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
More  than  once,  however,  a  friendly  angel  was  sent  to 
accelerate  his  journey,  and  to  give  gentle  and  repeated 
warnings  to  his  friends  to  be  prepared  for  his  removal.  It 
touched,  but  without  rudeness,  the  springs  of  his  intellec- 
tual life.  It  disturbed,  but  without  violence,  the  fountain 
of  his  affections,  the  Siloam  which  had  healed  and  blessed 
so  many.  But,  disturbed  as  it  was,  the  fountain  flowed 
and  sparkled  still  for  those  who  waited  at  its  brink.  His 
mind  was  often  inwardly  active,  when  all  expression  was 
denied  him ;  and,  even  when  he  was  apparently  asleep, 
was  following  passively  the  shadowy  and  di*eamy  flow  of 
his  fancy.  "  My  mind,"  he  would  say,  "  is  crowded  with 
thoughts,  precious  thoughts,  of  death  and  immortality ; " 
thoughts  which  he  longed  to  utter.  In  hours  of  perfect 
consciousness,  he  uniformly  declared  his  conviction,  that 
the  time  of  his  departure  had  come,  the  "  fitting  time,"  the 
"  best  time ;  "  and  occasional  allusions  to  the  approaching 
change  showed  the  peace  and  serenity  of  his  mind.  "  It 
was,"  says  one  who  never  left  him,  "as  when  the  parting 
of  the  clouds,  on  a  dark  evening,  shows  here  and  there  a 
bright  star  in  the  space  beyond  :  we  know  as  well  that  the 
whole  heaven  is  radiant  with  its  countless  myriads  still  as 
if  the  whole  atmosphere  were  clear,  and  we  saw  them  all." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  139 

Not  a  word,  not  a  look,  indicated  a  desire  to  return  to 
life ;  and  yet  every  precious  memory  of  the  past,  every 
interest  of  the  large  circle  of  friends  that  he  loved,  was  as 
dear  and  as  strong  as  ever.  In  one  or  two  short  intervals 
between  his  continually  lengthening  seasons  of  seeming 
or  entire  unconsciousness,  words  of  most  precious  import 
were  spoken  to  his  children,  the  impression  of  which  can 
never  be  effaced.  On  one  occasion,  his  thoughts  turned  to 
the  closing  hours  and  acts  of  the  Master  whom  he  loved ; 
and,  speaking  of  the  design  of  Jesus  in  instituting  the 
last  supper,  as  if  inspired  by  the  very  spirit  of  His  own 
boundless  benevolence,  he  stretched  out  his  feeble  arms, 
saying,  "  He  intended  it  for  all ;  he  would  gather  all  to  his 
embrace." 

He  was  now  constantly  anticipating  a  sudden  call  to 
depart,  for  which  nothing  remained  to  be  put  in  readiness  ; 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  aware  of  the  time  when 
the  mandate  came,  and  yielded  himself  up  with  a  quiet 
and  childlike  submission.  As  death  came  upon  him,  he 
threw  gently  over  him  the  veil  of  deepest  sleep  ;  under 
which  he  lay  for  a  few  hours,  still  breathing,  composed  and 
tranquil,  whilst  his  spirit  was  loosing  itself  from  its  worn- 
out  members,  and  sighing  itself  back  to  God. 

How  sweet  the  rest  it  found !  What  a  zest  has  the 
repose  of  immortality,  after  such  a  laborious  life !  "What 
a  beautiful  convoy  across  the  dark  flood,  the  smiling 
images  of  his  holy  works,  which,  the  Spirit  saith,  attend 
the  good  man,  as,  on  the  buoyant  wings  of  faith  and  hope, 
he  floats  from  earth  to  heaven !  "  He  hath  died  in  the 
Lord  I  "    from  henceforth  how  blessed  !     Well  done,  good 


140 


HISTORY     OF 


and  faithful  servant !    thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few 
things  :  thou  art  now  ruler  over  many  things. 

Mr.  Ware's  character  was  not  a  difficult  one  to  under- 
stand. It  had  some  hues,  indeed,  that  all  did  not  see,  — 
hues  of  rare  and  delicate  beauty,  which  were  clearly  per- 
ceived only  by  his  most  intimate  friends.  It  had  variety, 
too,  and  richness ;  reserved  stores  of  genius  and  strength 
and  love  and  mirth,  which  kept  alive  the  interest  and 
curiosity  of  those  who  were  most  often  in  his  society. 
But,  notwithstanding  all  this,  so  great  was  his  simplicity, 
that  any,  who  knew  him  at  all,  knew  his  principal  charac- 
teristics. In  his  own  family,  he  was,  in  all  important  par- 
ticulars, what  he  was  to  the  world.  He  was  not  one  thing 
in  one  place,  and  another  in  another,  but  always  the  same. 
Though  sometimes  reserved,  he  never  dissimulated.  If  he 
ever  wore  a  veil,  it  was  of  nature,  and  not  of  guile.  No 
man  living  was  more  truthful,  or  more  in  earnest  in  all  that 
he  said  and  did.  His  heart  was  too  sound  in  virtue  to 
desire  any  false  coloring  on  the  surface ;  his  soul  was  too 
ingenuous  and  noble  to  endure  it,  even  if  it  had  been 
needed.  His  conversation,  his  preaching,  and  his  writings, 
were,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  the  transcript  of  his  own 
mind  and  heart;  and  because  that  mind  was  sound  and 
wise  and  pure,  and  that  heart  warm,  devout,  and  true, 
therefore  it  came  to  pass,  that,  in  all  these  modes  of 
influence,  he  exerted  an  unusual  and  uniform  power 
upon  the  opinions,  sentiments,  and  principles  of  men. 
He  was  not  a  great  logician ;  but  when  he  reasoned 
of  righteousness,  temperance,  and  a  judgment  to  come, 
with  the  earnestness  of  deep  conviction,  with  the  logic  of 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  141 

common  sense,  with  the  authoritative  arguments  of  truth 
and  love,  the  reason  assented,  the  conscience  trembled,  the 
heart  submitted.     He  was  not  a  profound  theologian ;  but 
his  mind  was  well  furnished  with  the  most  valuable  trea- 
sures of  sacred  lore,  and  held  at  his  command  a  magazine 
of  illustrations,  expositions,  and  proofs  of  all  the  great  doc- 
trines which  he  had  examined  and  believed,  and  therefore 
preached.     He  was  not  a  graceful  rhetorician,  if  judged  by 
artificial  rules ;  but  in  that  plain,  serious,  earnest  eloquence, 
which   is   most    appropriate    to    the    pulpit,   whether  we 
estimate  him  by  the  interest  his  preaching  always  attracted 
or  by  the  effects  it  often  produced,  he  has  left  behind  him 
no  superior,  and  not  many  equals.     He  was  not  a  scholar, 
in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  that  word,  nor  a  man  of  bril- 
liant talents ;   but  in  amount  and  variety  of  general  and 
useful  knowledge,  in  quickness  of  intellectual  perception, 
in  correctness  of  taste,  in  the  finer  qualities  of  a  poetic 
imagination,  and  in  fervor  and  fertility  of  genius,  he  has 
given   abundant    evidences    of  high    natural    endowments 
and   excellent   culture.      But,  better   than    all,   he   was   a 
good,  a   sound,  a   faithful  man.      His    superiority  is  not 
seen  in  any  conspicuous  feature  of  greatness,  but  in  the 
fulness,  proportion,  and  solidity  of  his  moral  manliness. 
He  was  a  hero  of  the    Christian    stamp ;    brave   in    the 
cause  of  virtue,  without  the  flourish  of  arms;    invincible 
in   integrity,  without   boasting  or   arrogance;    prompt  in 
enterprises  of  benevolence,  without  impetuosity ;    patient 
in  hardships,  without  the  thirst  of  glory ;    overcoming  evil 
with  good,  and  achieving  the  victory  over  the  world  with 
the  sword  of  the    Spirit,  under   the   breastplate   of  faith 


142  HISTORY     OF 

and  love.     "  The  same  shall  be  called  great  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven." 

]VIi-.  Ware  died  at  Framingham,  Mass.,  Sept.  22,  1843. 
His  funeral  was  solemnized  by  appropriate  religious  ser- 
vices in  the  chapel  of  Harvard  University.  His  body  was 
followed  to  Mount  Auburn  by  a  long  train  of  friends,  and 
deposited,  amid  profound  silence  and  with  a  hopeful  sor- 
row, in  the  tomb  of  a  friend,  until  arrangements  could  be 
made  for  its  final  and  honorable  interment  on  Harvard 
Hill. 

Of  the  ministry  of  the  living  I  may  not  speak  with- 
out reserve.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  was  ordained  as 
colleague  with  Mr.  Ware,  March  11,  1829.  The  latter 
resigned  his  office,  Sept.  26,  1830;  and  Mr.  Emerson  re- 
mained sole  pastor  for  two  years,  when  he  was  dismissed 
at  his  own  request  by  reason  of  differences  of  sentiment 
between  himself  and  the  church  and  society  in  relation 
to  the  Lord's  Supper,  —  differences,  however,  which  werg 
entertained  on  both  sides  without  alienation  of  personal 
affection  and  esteem,  and  expressed  on  both  sides  with 
perfect  moderation  and  candor,  —  differences  which  were 
the  more  regretted  as  necessary  interruptions  of  a  con- 
nection which  was  with  many  of  the  parish  a  strong  and 
pleasant  tie. 

In  June,  1832,  Mr.  Emerson  invited  the  brethren  of 
the  church  to  meet  at  his  house,  "  to  receive  a  communi- 
cation from  him  in  relation  to  the  views  at  which  he  had 
arrived  respecting  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper." 
After  a  statement  of  them,  he  proposed  "  so  far  to  change 
the  manner   of  administering   the   rite   as   to   disuse   the 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  143 

elements,  and  relinquish  the  claim  of  authority ;  and  sug- 
gested a  mode  of  commemoration  which  might  secure  the 
undoubted  advantages  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  without  its 
objectionable  features."  After  hearing  this  communica- 
tion, the  church  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  and 
report  on  the  subject.  *  They  reported  the  following  re- 
solutions :  1.  "  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  church,  after  a 
a  careful  consideration  of  the  subject,  it  is  expedient  to 
maintain  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the  pre- 
sent form."  2.  "  That  the  brethren  of  this  church  retain 
an  undiminished  regard  for  the  pastor,  and  entertain  the 
hope  that  he  will  find  it  consistent  with  his  sense  of  duty 
to  continue  the  customary  administration  of  the  Supper." 
These  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted. 

The  pastor  afterwards,  in  a  public  discourse,  explained 
to  the  society  his  views  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  informed 
them  of  the  decision  of  the  church.  In  conclusion  he 
stated  his  conviction,  that,  as  it  was  no  longer  in  his 
power,  with  a  single  mind,  to  administer  the  communion, 
it  became  his  duty  to  resign  his  charge.  He  therefore 
requested  of  the  proprietors  a  dismission,  which  was 
granted. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Emerson,  the  pastoral  office 
remained  vacant  till  the  ordination  of  the  present  incum- 
bent, Dec.  3,  1833. 

No  Christian  church  ever  received  a  young  and  inex- 
perienced minister  with  more  cordial  and  considerate  kind- 

*  This  committee  consisted  of  Deacons  Mackintosh  and  Patterson,  Dr. 
John  Ware,  George  B.  Emerson,  George  A.  Sampson,  Gedney  King,  and 
Samuel  Beal. 


144  HISTORY     OF 

ness ;  and  no  young  preacher  ever  threw  himself  upon  the 
affections  and  forbearance  of  a  people  altogether  unknown 
to  him,  with  a  more  entire  and  delightful  confidence.  Such 
was  the  commencement  of  our  connection ;  a  connection 
which,  in  spite  of  the  sore  ti-oubles  and  severe  shocks  that, 
during  the  course  of  it  have  come  upon  the  parish,  has 
never  yet,  from  the  first  hour  to  the  last,  been  otherwise 
than  affectionate,  confidential,  and  happy.  Not  to  say  as 
much  as  this  would  be  as  untruthful  to  my  own  cherished 
recollections  and  deepest  feelings  as  it  would  be  unjust 
and  ungrateful  to  the  uninterrupted  current  of  your  kind- 
ness, to  the  occasional  extraordinary  and  distinguished 
tokens  of  your  attachment,  and  to  that  precious  and  tried 
friendship  which  has  been  as  honorable  to  you  as  a  parish, 
as  it  has  been  sustaining  and  dear  to  your  minister. 

My  thoughts  revert  now,  and  they  love  often  to  go  back, 
to  the  condition  of  our  society  ten  years  ago.  I  re-enter 
our  venerable  church,  crowned,  like  virtuous  age,  with  a 
hoary  glory ;  consecrated  by  the  prayers  of  many  genera- 
tions ;  within  whose  massive  walls  came  back  to  us  that 
impressive  voice  w^hich  had  so  often,  in  former  years, 
waked  their  solemn  echoes,  in  unison  with  responsive  tones 
from  the  deepest  hearts  of  the  people,  to  which  its  call  of 
tremulous  earnestness  seldom  failed  to  penetrate.  Images 
of  the  dead  and  the  living,  in  long  and  fair  processions, 
thread  its  aisles,  and  line  its  pews  with  reverential  ranks. 
Again  I  look  down  from  its  pulpit  into  the  open  faces  of 
the  friendly  and  peaceful  throng,  which,  from  sabbath  to 
sabbath,  with  lively  sympathy  quickened  a  pastor's  love, 
and,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  helped  his  feeble  hands  to  bear 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  145 

up  the  ark  of  the  Lord.  A  happier  church,  a  happier 
minister,  a  more  united  and  devoted  congregation,  it  would 
have  been  difficult  to  find. 

But  all  this  prosperity,  which  seemed  to  us  so  secure, 
soon  vanished  like  a  delightful  dream,  and  left  us,  home- 
less and  broken,  to  the  sad  and  almost  hopeless  task  of  re- 
collecting a  dismembered  society,  constructing  a  new  parish 
out  of  the  wrecks  of  the  old,  and  finding,  if  possible,  some 
humble  place,  with  nothing  of  the  dignity  or  sacredness 
of  a  church,  to  shelter  us  in  the  season  of  our  devotions. 

The  history  of  this  momentous  change,  though  known 
to  some  of  you,  it  is  my  duty  carefully  and  truthfully  to 
narrate.  I  will  uncover  the  past  so  far  as  is  absolutely  ne- 
cessary, and  no  further.  With  a  feeling  of  sacredness  and 
delicacy,  I  would  deal  with  old  transactions  ;  with  a  hand 
of  kindness  touch  painful  recollections,  —  more  glad,  if  it 
were  possible,  to  leave  them  undisturbed  in  obscurity  and 
silence.  But,  as  this  may  not  be,  let  us  pause  ere  we  look 
backward,  and  first  invoke  love  to  come  into  our  hearts, 
hand  in  hand  with  truth,  and  forgiveness  consorting  with 
justice  to  lead  and  attend  us  in  our  retrospect. 

The  causes  of  that  train  of  events  which  issued  in  the 
loss  of  the  new  church-edifice  in  Hanover-street  are  not 
of  recent  origin.  The  popularity  and  usefulness  of  Mr. 
Ware  attracted  several  families  to  his  society,  whose 
homes  were  at  a  distance  from  the  meeting-house ;  whilst, 
at  the  same  time,  not  a  few  of  his  parishioners  who  had 
been  living  near  their  place  of  worship,  obeying  a  tendency 
which  has  ever  since  been  increasing,  removed  to  a  more 
southerly  part  of  the  city,  but  still  retained  their  connection 
19 


146  HISTORY     OF 

with  the  Second  Church.  In  the  year  1832,  during  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Emerson,  the  worshippers  were  about 
equally  divided  into  two  parties :  those  who  lived  at  the 
North  End,  and  those  who  lived  at  the  South ;  so  that 
when  it  was  found  necessary  to  repair  the  old  house,  at  the 
expense  of  about  three  thousand  dollars,  it  became  a  ques- 
tion whether  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  sell  it,  and  erect 
a  new,  in  a  more  central  situation.  The  matter  was  the 
occasion  of  considerable  talk  and  some  feeling  in  the 
parish ;  and,  the  fact  of  such  a  discussion  becoming  gene- 
rally known,  an  offer  was  made  by  the  Roman  Catholics 
to  purchase  the  house  and  land  in  Hanover-street  for  the 
sum  of  nineteen  thousand  dollars.  Those  whose  birth- 
place and  dwellings  and  early  associations  strongly  at- 
tached them  to  the  locality  of  the  old  church,  opposed  the 
removal  of  the  ancient  landmark  so  strenuously,  that  they 
whose  convenience  led  them  to  desire  a  change  ceased  to 
press  their  wishes,  and  allowed  all  action  on  the  subject 
to  subside.  But,  though  not  brought  up  in  any  parish 
meeting  for  several  years,  it  formed  the  topic  of  frequent 
conversation,  and  was  never  out  of  the  minds  of  the 
people. 

At  the  commencement  of  his  ministry,  your  present 
pastor  saw  and  felt  the  existence  of  this  sectional  division  of 
the  society.  It  was  the  only  circumstance  which  then  or 
afterwards  gave  him  any  apprehension,  or  was  the  source 
of  any  trial.  It  was  his  endeavor,  of  course,  to  avoid 
alluding  to  it,  or  involving  himself  with  it,  in  any  way 
whatever,  and  to  prevent  its  being  brought  forward  in 
connection  with  any  parish  affairs. 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  147 

In  1840,  when  it  was  found  that  the  old  house  needed 
extensive  repairs,  the  question  of  rebuilding  necessarily, 
and  very  properly,  came  up  again  for  discussion.  The 
South  End  party  had  now  become  a  majority,  besides 
being  more  wealthy,  and  felt  that  they  had  a  right  at 
length  to  urge  their  claims,  more  especially  as  the  interests 
of  worship  seemed  to  require  a  more  accessible  location. 
They  agreed  upon  a  site  for  the  new  church  in  Somerset- 
street,  and  went  so  far  as  to  obtain  subscriptions  to  a  very 
large  amount  towards  its  erection.  The  North  End  por- 
tion of  the  society  still  objected,  and  with  great  firmness 
held  out  against  removal.  An  offer  was  made  to  the 
pastor  by  the  former,  in  case  he  would  go  with  them,  to 
push  the  matter  to  an  immediate  issue,  obtain  the  largest 
possible  vote,  and  proceed  at  once  to  build  on  the  proposed 
location.  This  offer  was  refused  by  him  without  hesita- 
tion, because  its  acceptance,  though  it  might  be  favorable, 
in  some  respects,  to  himself,  and  might  result  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  flourishing  society,  would  involve  a  division 
of  the  Second  Church,  to  which  his  duty  was  pledged,  and 
his  affections  were  bound. 

In  this  state  of  things,  he  ventured  to  address  a  letter 
to  the  parish,  urging  both  parties  to  be  studious  of  concord, 
and  to  make  concessions  for  the  common  good ;  and  ex- 
pressing the  belief  that  it  would  be  possible,  with  the  exer- 
cise of  a  little  forbearance,  to  agree  upon  an  arrangement 
that  should  satisfy  and  accommodate  all  the  proprietors, 
and  tend  to  the  security  and  increase  of  the  society.  This 
arrangement,  he  suggested,  must  have  respect  to  two 
points :  first,  the  location  of  the  neiv  church,  which  ought  to 


148  HISTORY     OF 

be  not  further  south  than  Court-street,  nor  further  north 
than  Union-street;  and,  secondly,  the  cost  of  the  building. 
With  regard  to  the  latter  point,  the  language  of  the  letter 
was  as  follows  :  — 

"  A  very  expensive  and  splendid  church,  I  am  sure,  it  is 
not  the  general  wish  of  the  congregation  to  have.  I  am 
still  more  certain  that  such  is  not  my  desire.  I  can  never 
look  with  approbation  upon  the  too  common  practice  of 
religious  societies,  of  vying  with  one  another  in  building 
showy  and  extravagant  places  of  worship.  The  spirit  which 
is  thus  manifested  is  not  the  spirit  of  Christ.  The  example 
is  bad ;  the  tendency,  pernicious,  —  more  especially,  when, 
to  accomplish  this  end,  the  society  must  run  in  debt.  Such 
buildings  exclude  the  poor,  Avith  those  who  are  in  moderate 
circumstances,  and  draw  in  those  whose  motives  in  select- 
ing their  place  of  worship  are  any  thing  but  religious. 
They  hold  out  a  lure  to  ambitious  men  of  small  means 
to  buy  pews  which  they  cannot  honestly  afford  to  own. 
They  make  the  taxes  burdensome,  and  lead  to  the  indul- 
gence of  feelings  of  pride  and  vain  show,  which  turn  away 
attention  from  the  spiritual  worship  of  God,  to  the  '  marble 
dome  and  gilded  spire,  and  costly  pomp  of  sacrifice.'  We 
ought,  if  we  build,  to  erect  a  capacious,  commodious,  sub- 
stantial, and  neat  edifice ;  one,  of  which  we  shall  neither 
be  ashamed  nor  proud ;  one  in  which  a  good  pew  can  be 
procured  without  extravagance ;  one  which  may  go  down 
to  our  children's  children  by  reason  of  its  solidity,  and 
burdened  with  no  encumbrances  by  reason  of  the  pride 
of  their  ancestors ;  one  which,  from  the  corner-stone  to  the 
pinnacle,  shall  be  built  up  justly  and  honestly." 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  149 

This  letter  stopped,  for  a  time,  all  further  proceedings. 
All  attempt  was  then  made  to  find  a  suitable  site  some- 
where in  the  part  of  the  city  recommended  by  the  pastor. 
After  the  failure  of  this  attempt,  the  South  End  members 
of  the  society  gradually  lost  their  interest  in  the  project  of 
removal,  which  seemed  destined  to  continual  disappoint- 
ment; whilst  the  zeal  of  the  other  party  increased,  and 
their  hopes  strengthened.  At  length,  having  a  small  ma- 
jority, the  latter  obtained  a  decisive  vote  to  demolish  the 
old  church,  and  rebuild  on  the  same  spot,  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  whole  cost  of  the  new  building  should 
not  exceed  thirty-four  thousand  dollars.  This  proceeding 
produced  much  discontent,  and  caused  the  withdrawal  of 
several  of  the  most  substantial  parishioners. 

The  building  committee,  in  their  desire  to  procure  a 
durable  and  beautiful  house,  that  should  not  only  be 
worthy  of  the  society,  but  an  ornament  also  to  the  north 
part  of  the  city,  caused  to  be  erected  the  spacious  and 
costly  edifice,  which,  contrary  to  their  expectations,  has 
been  the  cause  of  unmeasured  distress  to  the  parish  they 
hoped  to  honor. 

When  the  building  was  completed,  it  was  deemed 
necessary,  in  order  to  effect  a  sale  of  the  pews,  to  appraise 
them  for  a  sum  very  much  less  than  the  cost  of  construc- 
tion. If  all  had  been  sold,  there  would  still  have  remained 
a  large  debt.  More  than  one  hundred  ivere  purchased,  and 
many  for  very  large  sums,  and  yet  the  debt  was  found  to 
be  not  far  from  forty  thousand  dollars.  For  a  large  part  of 
this  amount,  the  building  was  mortgaged;  the  mortgage  to 
run  till  1851  or  1852.      Notwithstanding  this   heavy  and 


150  HISTORY     OF 

dangerous  burden,  the  society  seemed  steadily  to  increase. 
But  the  managers  of  its  aflfairs  were  ever  solicitous  about 
the  debt,  and  often  deliberated  concerning  the  mode  of 
lightening  or  discharging  it.  The  standing  committee, 
with  exceptions,  were  of  opinion  that  the  true  course  was 
to  assess  the  pews  for  the  whole  amount,  and  pay  it  at 
once. 

A  parish  meeting  was  called,  and  a  vote  demanded  on 
this  proposition.  The  meeting  was  very  numerously  at- 
tended, and  the  proposition  negatived  by  an  immense 
majority.  A  short  time  after,  the  committee  called 
another  meeting  on  parish  affairs,  at  which  very  few  of 
the  proprietors  were  present ;  when  it  was  voted,  in 
substance,  that  the  whole  subject  of  the  debt  be  left  in  the 
hands  of  the  standing  committee.  The  committee  then 
proceeded  to  assess  the  whole  debt  on  the  pews.  The 
assessment  amounted  to  eighty  per  cent  of  their  original 
cost.  This  act  of  the  committee  gave  great  offence. 
Nearly  a  hundred  proprietors  gave  up  their  deeds  on 
account  of  it.  About  twenty  paid  the  assessment.  In 
this  emergency,  your  minister  volunteered  to  endeavor,  by 
personal  application  to  the  offended  individuals,  to  induce 
them  to  repurchase.  The  twenty  proprietors  agreed,  that, 
in  case  he  would  obtain  the  sale  of  seventy-five  pews  (the 
whole  being  reappraised  so  as  to  cover  the  debt),  they 
would  consent  to  admit  the  purchasers  to  their  corporation. 
Those  to  whom  he  applied  understood  that  they  were  only 
to  be  held  bound  to  an  engagement  to  repurchase,  on  con- 
dition that  the  whole  number  specified  should  be  obtained. 
This  was  in  the  spring  of  1849.     Your  pastor  procured  the 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  151 

desired  promise  from  nearly  sixty  individuals,  when,  being 
compelled  by  imperative  calls  of  a  domestic  natm-e  to  take 
a  short  journey  to  the  South,  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  congregation  agreed  to  take  the  business  in  charge, 
and  try  to  complete  the  requisite  list.  When  he  returned, 
he  found,  to  his  surprise,  that  the  project  had  been  aban- 
doned. 

A  few  months  after  this,  in  June,  1849,  your  pastor 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  proprietors,  then  reduced  to  about 
twenty,  tendering  his  resignation.  According  to  estab- 
lished usage,  this  letter  would  have  been  publicly  read 
from  the  pulpit.  But,  from  feelings  of  delicacy  towards 
the  small  body  of  proprietors,  it  was  sent  to  them  through 
their  clerk,  and  left  at  their  disposal.  It  was  never  read  to 
the  congregation. 

To  this  act  of  resignation,  long  deferred  and  most  re- 
luctantly performed,  two  powerful  and  deep  convictions 
moved  me.  The  first  related  to  the  utter  hopelessness 
of  saving  the  church-edifice ;  the  other,  to  the  possibility  of 
saving  the  living  body,  the  church  and  congregation,  es- 
sentially the  same,  through  a  separation  from  the  building. 

After  calm  and  thorough  examination  of  the  state  of 
the  parish,  in  connection  with  the  causes  that  produced  it, 
I  was  fully  persuaded  that  there  was  no  possibility  either 
of  discharging  the  debt  of  the  society,  or  of  keeping  the 
society  together  with  the  pressure  of  that  debt  upon  it.  I 
had  seen  the  failure  of  plan  after  plan  suggested  by  others. 
I  had  been  again  and  again  disappointed  at  the  want 
of  success  of  my  own  efforts.  I  had  noted  the  falling-off', 
one  after  another,  of  the  oldest  and  most  valuable  members 


152  HISTORY     OF 

of  the  parish,  and  was  aware  that  the  removal  of  a  still 
greater  number  was  impending.  I  saw  division  that  I 
could  not  heal,  and  alienation  to  which  I  could  apply  no 
remedy,  —  division,  not  so  much  of  will  as  of  necessity; 
and  alienation,  not  of  intentional,  but  of  circumstantial 
origin ;  whose  cause  was  neither  sudden  nor  particular, 
but  manifold,  and  of  many  years'  growth.  I  felt  that  under 
such  circumstances  my  preaching  was  abortive.  And  a 
terrible  vision,  both  of  the  loss  of  the  house,  and  the  ruin 
of  the  flock,  —  a  vision  which  no  man  offered  one  valid 
reason  to  dispel,  —  haunted  and  affrighted  me.  Not  has- 
tily, not  lightly,  not  willingly,  did  I  take  the  initiatory 
step  towards  a  separation  from  the  proprietors.  But  after 
many  prayers,  after  long  reflection,  after  deliberate  inves- 
tigation, with  unfeigned  grief,  with  shrinking  reluctance, 
and  under  the  most  solemn  sense  of  responsibility,  did  I 
ask  them  to  release  me  from  a  bond  whose  sacredness 
had  previously  impressed  as  much  as  its  pleasantness  had 
attracted  me. 

To  save  the  edifice,  therefore,  and  the  society  in  con- 
nection with  it,  was,  as  I  believed,  utterly  beyond  hope. 
To  remain  longer  attached  to  the  house  would  be,  as  I 
felt  confident,  to  see  the  ruin  of  the  church  and  society. 
The  only  hope  that  remained  was,  that,  separated  from 
the  building  which  was  crushing  them,  the  church  and 
congregation,  essentially  the  same,  might  still  be  kept 
alive.  The  house  was  but  of  yesterday ;  a  pile  of  wood 
and  stone,  which  wealth  and  handicraft  could  at  any  time 
destroy  and  replace.  But  the  church  was  venerable  with 
age ;  rich  in  sacred  recollections ;  renowned  in  the  eccle- 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  153 

siastlcal  annals  of  New  England ;  honored  in  the  esteem 
of  all  for  the  ancient  worthies,  famed  in  chm*ch  and  state, 
whose  names  were  enrolled  amongst  its  members ;  and 
very  dear  to  many  of  us  as  the  nurse  of  our  early  faith,  — 
overgrown  with  sweet  and  hallowed  recollections  of  reli- 
gious services  and  joys,  of  Christian  friends  and  Christian 
instructors,  many  of  them  long  since  passed  from  its  bosom 
to  the  communion  of  the  blest,  who  had  bequeathed  to 
it  the  rich  inheritance  of  their  virtues,  and  the  precious 
legacy  of  their  dying  benedictions. 

Concern  for  the  salvation  of  this,  together  with  the 
flock  long  bound  to  one  another  and  to  my  heart  by  closest 
ties,  absorbed  all  other  concern.  For  these  I  felt  that  no 
sacrifice  would  be  too  costly.  If  only  these  might  survive, 
the  loss  of  the  building,  however  painful  and  mortifying, 
would  be  comparatively  small. 

But  could  the  flock  be  saved?  Would  its  members 
ever  reunite  ?  After  so  many  trials  and  disappointments  ; 
after  heavy  pecuniary  losses ;  after  the  shame  and  shock 
of  losing  their  house  of  worship ;  after  having  been  once 
actually  scattered,  with  no  local  centre  and  no  external 
bond,  —  was  it  probable,  was  it  possible,  that  they  would 
ever  again  come  together,  and  take  upon  themselves  anew 
the  labor  and  expense  of  supporting  public  worship  ? 

These  questions  were  continually  asked.  And  they 
who  did  not  know  this  people  invariably  gave  to  them  but 
one  answer,  '■■'■  It  could  not  be."  1  often  asked  these  ques- 
tions of  myself;  sometimes  with  deep  solicitude.  The 
prospect  was  most  discouraging ;  the  difficulties  seemed 
almost  countless  and  insuperable.  Again  and  again,  my 
20 


154  HISTORY     OF 

heart  was  on  the  point  of  failing  me.  But  I  could  not 
despair.  I  could  not  give  up  all  hope,  I  could  not  be 
brought  to  look  aside  to  any  other  pastoral  connection.  I 
could  not  contemplate  any  provision  for  myself  in  the 
contingency  of  failure. 

At  the  bottom  of  my  heart  there  was  a  feeling  of 
trust  that  could  not  be  rooted  out,  —  trust  in  you,  dear 
friends,  and  ti-ust  in  God.  I  knew  the  flock  too  well  to 
believe  that  they  would  suffer  their  old  associations  to  be 
for  ever  dissolved,  their  sacred  and  pleasant  ties  to  be  for 
ever  broken,  without  an  effort.  I  knew  the  flock  too  well 
to  believe  that  their  hearts  would  not  cling  together,  after 
all  external  bonds  should  be  broken.  I  had  confidence  in 
them,  that  nothing  short  of  impossibility  would  discourage 
them  from  attempting  a  re-organization.  I  felt  all  the 
while,  even  in  the  darkest  days  of  absence,  a  secret  attrac- 
tion holding  me  back  from  aU  new  connections  ;  an 
attraction  which  I  was  sure  was  but  responsive  to  that 
which  acted  upon  your  own  hearts ;  a  strong  and  sweet 
constraint  that  I  have  often  interpreted  to  myself  in  the 
beautiful  words  in  which  friendship,  of  old  time,  expressed 
the  warmth  and  fidelity  of  its  cohesive  instinct :  "  Entreat 
me  not  to  leave  thee,  or  to  return  fi"om  following  after 
thee  ;  for  whither  thou  goest,  I  will  go  ;  and  where  thou 
lodgest,  I  will  lodge :  thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and 
thy  God  my  God.  Where  thou  diest  will  I  die  ;  and  there 
will  I  be  buried.  The  Lord  do  so  to  me,  and  more  also, 
if  aught  but  death  part  thee  and  me." 

I  had  confidence  also  in  God,  who  heareth  the  prayers 
of  his  children,  and  is  faithful  to  remember  the  labors  of 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  155 

his  servants;  that  God  to  whom  our  fathers,  and  the 
shepherds  of  our  ancient  fold,  have  cried  for  a  blessing 
upon  the  church  of  their  love  ;  that  God  who  saw  their 
toils  for  its  prosperity,  and  knows  that  in  heaven  they  could 
have  no  greater  joy  than  to  see  it  flourishing  and  at  peace, 
rising  up  in  renewed  vigor  from  its  low  estate,  putting  on 
again  its  beautiful  garments,  sending  out  the  kind  invita- 
tions of  the  Spirit,  and  gathering,  as  in  former  days,  many 
sons  and  daughters  to  glory. 

How  well-founded  this  confidence,  how  faithful  and 
how  merciful  the  God  of  our  fathers,  and  our  own  God,  let 
the  remembrance  of  the  past  tell  us,  let  this  day's  spectacle 
attest. 

The  proprietors,  soon  after  the  resignation  of  their 
minister  was  offered,  voted  to  accept  it,  and  to  close  their 
house.  It  was  never  afterwards  opened  for  worship  by  the 
Second  Church.  Meanwhile,  before  the  intervention  of  a 
single  sabbath  after  the  close  of  the  meeting-house,  the 
communicants  of  the  church,  called  together  by  the  dea- 
cons, voted  unanimously  to  request  their  pastor  to  continue 
his  ministrations,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  a 
suitable  place  of  worship.  Such  a  place  was  obtained ; 
a  large  majority  of  the  congregation  assembled ;  and  all 
the  ordinances  of  religion  have  been  regularly  administered 
till  the  present  time.* 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  the  proprietors  of  the  church  in 
Freeman  Place,  discouraged  on  account  of  the  long  illness 
of  their  minister.  Rev.  James  Freeman  Clarke,  offered  to 

*  The  society  worshipped  a  great  part  of  the  time  in  the  Masonic 
Temple. 


156  HISTORY     OF 

sell  their  building  to  this  society,  on  terms  quite  reasona- 
ble and  advantageous  to  us.  The  offer  was  gladly 
accepted  ;  and,  through  the  munificence  of  several  indivi- 
duals amongst  yourselves,  the  sum  necessary  for  the 
purchase  was  raised,  without  a  heavy  burden  upon  the 
remainder  of  the  parish. 

The  proprietors  of  the  house  in  Hanover-street,  having 
sold  their  property  in  it  to  the  Methodists,  and  settled  up 
their  affairs,  voted  to  take  the  deed  of  the  church  in 
Freeman  Place  in  their  corporate  name,  and  to  call  their 
former  minister  to  resume  his  official  relations  to  their 
body,  in  order  that  this  society  might  be  fully  entitled, 
according  to  the  terms  of  the  law,  to  the  name  and  records 
of  the  «  Second  Church." 

Such  is  a  correct  statement  of  the  principal  facts  per- 
taining to  the  history  of  the  loss  of  the  church-edifice  in 
Hanover-street ;  concerning  which,  false  impressions  have 
gone  abroad.  One  of  these  is,  that  the  society  was  forced 
to  sell  because  it  was  too  poor  to  pay  for  the  building. 
Those  who  know  the  truth  know  well  that  the  parish  could 
have  discharged  their  debt  without  difficulty,  had  there 
only  have  been  unanimity  of  feeling  among  its  members. 
Some  of  you  are  aware  of  the  fact,  that  wealthy  indivi- 
duals pledged  themselves  to  the  pastor  to  carry  the  church 
through  its  embarrassments,  provided  the  society  would 
unite  upon  the  plan  he  proposed.  The  sole  causes  of  the 
sacrifice  of  the  building,  I  assert  ivithout  fear  of  contradiction, 
were  but  these  tivo :  first,  the  ivant  of  unanimity,  to  which 
I  have  just  referred ;  and,  secondly,  a  belief  on  the  part  of 
many  judicious  and  able  men  in   the    society,   that,   even 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  157 

if  the  debt  should  be  paid,  the  location  of  the  church  ivas 
such  as  to  make  it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  to  find  a  congregation,  of  our  mode  of  faith,  in  the 
north  part  of  the  city,  large  enough  to  fill  and  support  it. 
The  latter  cause  accounts  in  part  for  the  formen  It  ex- 
plains the  lukewarrnness  and  indisposition  with  regard 
to  the  liquidation  of  the  debt  on  the  part  of  some  who 
always  had  been  before,  and  have  been  since,  most  devoted 
to  the  welfare  of  the  society,  and  most  unsparing  in  their 
pecuniary  contributions.  Neither  their  judgment  nor  their 
feelings  went  with  the  movement  to  build  or  to  sustain  so 
large  and  costly  a  church  in  a  position  unaccommodating 
to  themselves,  and,  as  they  supposed,  unfavorable  to  the 
prospect  of  a  flourishing  congi-egation  of  their  own  house- 
hold of  faith. 

One  additional  remark  I  feel  constrained  to  make,  be- 
fore leaving  this  painful  retrospect.  I  would  do  justice  and 
give  honor  in  their  turn  to  those  few  of  my  old  parishioners 
who  paid  the  heavy  assessment,  retained  the  proprietorship 
of  their  pews,  and  stood  by  their  meeting-house  to  the  last. 
We  are  bound  to  believe,  that  they  acted,  as  they  supposed, 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  society.  The  way  they  wished 
to  take,  and  for  themselves  did  take,  to  free  the  church 
from  debt,  was  a  simple,  straightforward,  and  summary 
one.  It  would  obviously  have  been  effectual  at  once,  had 
all  the  proprietors  agreed  to  it.  Some  who  took  this 
method,  did  it,  we  know,  at  a  pecuniary  cost  they  were  ill 
able  to  bear.  For  their  manly  and  conscientious  sacrifice, 
they  deserve,  and  shall  have,  our  respect.  Nor  can  I  for- 
bear, on  this  occasion,  to  express  the  gratitude  and  esteem 


158  HISTORY     OF 

I  feel  towards  those  members  of  our  society  whose  homes 
and  local  attachments  bind  them  closely  to  the  northern 
part  of  the  city,  but  who  have  steadily  and  unweariedly 
followed  this  church  in  its  migrations,  helped  to  sustain  it 
in  its  days  of  trial,  and  generously  contributed  to  provide 
for  us  this  new  sanctuary,  so  far  from  their  own  doors. 
How  beautiful,  how  honorable,  and  how  sacred,  are  those 
religious  affections,  and  that  Christian  friendship,  which 
thus  show  themselves  stronger  than  aU  local  attachments, 
and  all  sectional  prejudices  and  interests  I 

And  now,  my  friends,  as  we  review  the  recent  history 
of  our  church,  let  us  ponder  well  the  lessons  it  so  impres- 
sively teaches.  They  are  lessons  which  the  whole  religious 
community  has  need  presently  to  learn.  They  are  lessons 
which  many  Christian  societies  would  do  well  to  heed. 
For  our  experience  is  involved  with  principles  of  deeper 
interest  and  wider  concern  than  any  that  affect  merely  the 
condition  of  a  single  church.  It  has  important  connec- 
tions with  the  ecclesiastical  manifestations  and  religious 
tendencies  of  the  present  age.  It  is  illustrative,  admoni- 
tory, exemplary. 

The  thought  that  was  at  the  root  of  om*  misfortunes 
is  one  that,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  influences  nearly 
all  modern  Christian  organizations  and  enterprises ;  and, 
wheresoever  and  howsoever  it  is  involved  with  them,  cor- 
rupts their  purity  and  weakens  their  power.  This  thought, 
it  is  true,  did  not  shape  itself  into  distinct  form,  in  the 
mind  of  any  of  our  parishioners  ;  nor  did  they  suspect, 
perhaps,  its  existence  in  their  hearts.  Their  purpose,  as 
they  understood  it,  was  to  do  honor  to  their  society  ;  their 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  159 

wish,  to  strengthen  and  advance  their  church.  But  how 
great  the  error  to  imagine  that  religion  can  be  supported 
and  advanced  except  by  a  religious  spirit  !  How  fatal  the 
mistake  to  suppose  that  it  is  dependent,  for  its  vitality  and 
success,  upon  measures  of  worldly  policy,  upon  exterior 
adornment,  upon  the  patronage  of  the  wealthy,  the  favor 
of  the  fashionable,  the  countenance  of  men  in  high  places, 
or  upon  any  thing  which  the  wit  of  man  can  devise,  or  the 
hand  of  man  construct,  except  under  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  through  the  inherent  power  of  a  living 
faith  and  piety  I  This  looking  at  religion  from  without, 
this  consulting  for  it  in  externals,  this  constant  regard  to 
what  will  make  it  attractive,  imposing,  comfortable,  in- 
fluential, according  to  a  worldly  estimate,  —  this  it  is 
which,  as  much  as  any  thing  else,  draws  away  attention 
from  the  weightier  matters  of  Christianity,  emasculates 
faith,  uses  up  religious  feeling,  and  steals  away  from  Chris- 
tian enterprise  the  very  secret  of  its  energy. 

How  small  the  debt  religion  owes,  in  our  day,  to  those 
who  build  her  costly  temples  !  How  small  her  obligation 
to  those  who,  to  provide  splendid  accommodations  for  her 
meek  spirit  and  her  simple  rites,  entangle  her  hallowed 
interests  with  pecuniary  embarrassments  and  disputes,  and 
connect  her  sacred  name  with  obloquy,  by  involving  it  with 
debts,  mortgages,  and  financial  schemes.  When  great 
reverence,  combined  with  great  wealth  and  a  munificent 
spirit,  burning  to  give  some  equal  expression  to  its  high 
emotions,  builds  itself  into  a  majestic  pile  as  spontaneously 
as  David's  adoration  wrought  itself  into  a  majestic  psalm, 
man  can  admire  with  a  glow  of  devotion ;  and  God  per- 


160  HISTORY     OF 

haps,  to  whom  the  offering  is  made,  approve,  accept,  and 
consecrate.  But  when  pride,  without  means  or  without 
self-sacrifice,  strains,  contrives,  borrows,  and  begs,  to  raise 
a  splendid  edifice  ;  or  when  a  love  of  show,  with  ample 
means,  lavishes  expense  and  ornament  upon  the  house  of 
prayer,  to  gratify  itself  under  pretence  of  honoring  God,  — 
good  sense  and  piety  are  alike  ashamed,  and  Christianity  is 
injured  rather  than  advanced.  Keligion  is  more  attractive 
and  strong,  unsheltered,  unadorned,  in  groves  or  caverns,  or 
in  the  wilderness  under  the  open  sky,  with  no  conti-ibutions 
of  wealth  or  art,  than  in  marble  temples  which  ambition 
and  pride  have  built,  and  at  gorgeous  altars  where  she  can- 
not minister  without  a  feeling  of  incumbrance  and  restraint, 
because  the  pavement  beneath,  and  the  arches  above  her, 
are  not  freely  and  entirely  her  own.  She  loves  the  place 
where  the  poor  come  with  the  rich ;  where  want  is  not 
reminded  of  its  coarse  attire ;  where  worldly  distinctions 
are  not  recognized ;  where,  if  there  be  magnificence  and 
beauty,  they  are  the  free  offerings  of  reverence  and  love,  — 
like  the  costly  presents  of  frankincense  and  gold  which 
the  Eastern  Magi  laid  before  the  infant  Saviour ;  not  as  if 
he  cared  for  such  things,  nor  to  heighten  the  effect  of  his 
own  meek  loveliness,  but  as  tokens  of  their  veneration, 
emblems  of  his  sovereignty,  symbols  of  the  more  precious 
offerings  of  the  heart  with  which  men  should  appear  before 
him. 

Oh!  how  much  in  this  age  do  we  need  to  have  our 
attention  turned  from  the  outward  to  the  inward  of  religion 
and  the  holy  life ;  to  have  our  thoughts  carried  down  from 
the  surface  to  the  profounder  depths  of  Christian  doctrine 


THE     SECOND     CHURCH.  161 

and  Christian  experience !  How  much  do  we  need  to  have 
impressed  upon  us  the  truth,  that  religion  can  advance  no 
faster  and  no  further  than  its  own  spirit  rises,  enlarges, 
becomes  more  intense  and  more  pure,  in  the  hearts  of 
God's  individual  children ;  that  temples  and  altars  cannot 
make  or  propagate  religion,  except  so  far  as  religion  makes 
and  uses  them ;  that  wealth,  power,  learning,  art,  cannot 
spread  Christianity,  till  she  has  first  inspired  and  conse- 
crated them;  that  the  root  of  true  Christian  usefulness 
and  sti'ength  grows  in  the  silent  depths  of  the  devout  and 
faithful  spirit;  and  that  Christ  can  come  in  the  world  only 
through  the  secret  gates  and  the  everlasting  doors  of  hearts 
that  open  inwardly  towards  heaven! 

Such  lessons  as  these,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  ive,  my  friends, 
have  learnt  thoroughly,  through  the  chastisement  that  their 
misunderstanding  has  brought  upon  us.  And  if  it  be  so, 
and  if  our  misfortunes,  widely  observed,  may  have  helped 
to  impress  these  same  truths  more  deeply  upon  the  whole 
religious  community,  those  misfortunes  have  been  worth 
their  cost;  and,  in  view  of  the  spiritual  result  to  which 
Providence  has  made  them  instrumental,  we  have  more 
reason,  I  think,  for  thanksgiving  than  for  regret,  —  espe- 
cially, since  we  have  survived  and  been  supported  through 
them,  —  especially,  since  the  good  God,  who  saw  fit  to 
bring  us  down,  has  been  pleased  at  length  to  raise  us  up, 
—  especially,  since  there  mingle  with  the  remembrance  of 
our  suffering,  sweet  recollections  of  his  gracious  succor,  — 
especially,  since  on  looking  back  we  can  now  say,  as  did 
the  Seventy  returning  to  Jesus  from  the  arduous  mission 
on  which  they  went  out,  without  purse  or  scrip  or  stafl', 
21 


162  HISTORY     OF 

"  We  have  lacked  nothing:"  We  have  never  been  without 
a  covert;  we  have  never  been  deprived  of  the  bread  of 
heaven ;  we  have  never  been  destitute  of  the  sympathy 
of  the  churches ;  we  have  never  been  without  the  most 
liberal  and  ample  contributions  from  amongst  ourselves 
for  the  honorable  maintenance  of  worship ;  we  have  never 
been  without  a  perfect  trust,  that  He  who  led  us  into  the 
wilderness  would  find  us  a  path,  if  we  waited  his  time, 
through  cloud  and  trial,  to  a  higher  condition  of  individual 
virtue,  and  a  position  of  more  elevated  usefulness. 

And  we  have  not  been  disappointed  of  our  hope, — 
who  ever  waited  upon  Him,  and  ivas  disappointed  ?  At 
the  very  last  extremity,  as  it  seemed  to  us,  in  the  hour  of 
greatest  darkness,  the  hour  of  our  deliverance  came.  The 
star  of  promise,  that,  shining  before  us  in  our  prayers, 
had  led  us  hopefully  on,  seemed  setting  for  ever;  but  it 
was  only  going  down  because  its  ministry  was  needed  no 
more  when  the  bright  reality  to  which  it  had  been  guiding 
us  was  close  at  hand. 

But  I  must  bring  this  lengthened  discourse  to  a  close. 
I  have  endeavored  to  lay  before  you  what  could  be  ga- 
thered up  from  our  records  that  seemed  worthy  of  recital. 
I  have  attempted  to  do  justice  to  the  characters  of  all  my 
predecessors  in  the  ministry  of  the  Second  Church.  I 
have  reviewed  with  you  the  history  of  the  remote  and  the 
recent  past;  traced  all  the  way  through  which  the  Lord 
our  God  hath  led  us;  recalled  the  beautiful  days  of  our 
former  peace,  and  the  dark  days  of  our  later  trial.  And 
now,  as  we  look  back,  every  painful  incident,  brightened 
and  interpreted  by  the  light  of  our  present  joy,  seems  to 


THE     SECOND     CHUKCH.  163 

US  but  a  necessary  part  of  a  needed  discipline,  —  a  veiled 
minister  of  Divine  Love,  under  a  deep  veil,  guiding  us  and 
helping  us,  though  we  knew  it  not,  to  the  green  pastures 
and  the  still  waters,  and  the  blessed  re-union  which  we 
are  enjoying  to-day. 

As  one  after  another  I  have  called  the  names  of  our 
venerated  pastors  and  teachers,  and  recounted  their  valua- 
ble labors,  I  have  felt  as  if  their  spirits,  evoked  for  a  while 
from  then-  different  stages  of  ascent  up  the  holy  heights, 
had,  one  after  another,  come  back  to  us,  with  attending 
trains  of  the  saints  whom  they  led  to  glory,  till  at  length 
they  all  have  gathered  over  us,  smiling  to  behold  om-  joy, 
and  blessing  God  together  with  us,  that  he  "  hath  extended 
mercy  to  us,  to  give  us  a  reviving,  to  set  up  the  house  of 
our  God,  and  to  repair  the  desolations  thereof,  and  to  give 
us  a  wall  in  "  the  city  that  was  dear  to  them,  and  is  dear 
to  us,  as  "  Judah  and  Jerusalem." 

Seeing,  then,  that  we  are  compassed  about  with  so 
great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  let  us  renew  our  vows  of  fidelity 
and  love  to  God,  and  to  each  other ;  and,  taking  the  sacred 
ark  that  has  been  entrusted  to  our  charge,  upon  our  shoul- 
ders, and  to  our  hearts,  bear  it  on  prayerfully  and  steadily 
and  hopefully  into  another  century. 

And  now,  my  friends,  I  give  place  to  the  oldest  and 
most  venerable  of  my  predecessors,  and  join  you,  as  an 
attentive  listener,  to  the  pregnant  words  of  his  last  "  Testi- 
mony to  the  Churches  : "  — 

"  I  am  now  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  my  age,  and 
under  a  feebleness  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death, — 
wherein  the  Lord  is  yet  a  light  unto  me,  and  makes  it  but 


164  HISTORY    OF   THE   SECOND    CHURCH. 

a  shadow  of  death,  —  and  I  am  every  hour  waiting  and 
longing  for  my  dismission  to  a  better  world.  In  these 
circumstances  I  do  declare,  that  the  principal  design  upon 
which  these  colonies  were  first  planted  was  to  profess  and 
practise  and  enjoy,  with  undisturbed  liberty,  the  holy  reli- 
gion of  God  om-  Saviom-,  exhibited  in  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures, and  rescued  from  the  inventions  and  abuses  [of 
man] ;  and  more  particularly  to  set  up  churches  for  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  shall  keep  themselves  loyal  to  him, 
their  glorious  King,  and  faithful  to  the  religion  of  the 
Second  Commandment.  ...  It  is  now  the  dying  wish  of 
one  who  has  been  for  about  threescore  and  six  years,  after 
a  poor  manner,  but,  I  hope,  with  some  sincerity,  serving 
the  best  of  Masters,  in  the  blessed  work  of  the  gospel,  that 
the  churches  may  stand  firm  in  the  faith  and  order  of  the 
gospel,  and  hold  fast  what  they  have  received,  and  let  no 
man  take  away  their  crown.  But  there  may  be  danger  of 
a  generation  arising  which  will  not  know  the  Lord,  nor  the 
works  done  by  him  and  for  him  among  his  people  here. 
And  therefore,  from  the  suburbs  of  that  glorious  world 
into  which  I  am  now  entering,  I  earnestly  testify  unto  the 
rising  generation,  that,  if  they  sinfully  forsake  the  God, 
the  hope,  and  the  religious  ways  of  their  pious  ancestors, 
the  glorious  Lord  will  severely  punish  their  apostasy,  and 
be  terrible  from  his  holy  places  upon  them.  Now,  the 
Lord  our  God  be  with  you,  as  he  was  with  your  fathers ! 
Let  him  not  leave  you  nor  forsake  you  I  Lord,  let  thy 
work  appear  unto  thy  servants,  and  thy  glory  unto  their 
children."  * 

*  Signed,  Increase  Mather,  Nov.  10,  1722. 


'^f'Silr'il^lJf'IIEHPHSSBIHH^^ 


^^^^  ^^  ^^2^^  1 


'^4^<^ 


'-/ 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  BRICK  CHURCH. 


It  has  already  been  stated  in  the  pi'ecedmg  pages,  that,  on  the  sixth  day  of 
May,  1779,  the  Second  Church  adopted  a  plan  of  perpetual  union  with 
the  New  Brick,  in  which  it  was  agreed  that  both  should  take  the  name 
and  continue  the  records  and  line  of  descent  of  the  older  of  the  two,  —  the 
Second  Church.  We  have,  therefore,  as  descendants  in  part  from  that 
religious  body,  and  possessors  of  its  records,  a  commemorative  duty  to 
discharge  to  the  New  Brick  Church.  This  obligation  I  attempted  to  fulfil 
in  two  discourses  preached  on  the  sabbath  immediately  before  the  demo- 
lition of  the  Old  Meeting-house  in  Hanover-street,  which  our  society 
inherited  from  the  last-named  branch  of  its  ancestry.  Those  discourses 
are  not  now  to  be  procured,  and  were  never  exposed  for  sale  ;  fewer, 
through  a  strange  mistake,  having  been  printed  than  were  subscribed  for. 
A  new  edition  of  them,  as  some  of  my  readers  are  aware,  has  been  several 
times  called  for  by  our  society ;  and  individuals  have  generously  offered  to 
take  upon  themselves  the  whole  expense  of  a  repiint.  But  the  offer  has 
been  hitherto  refused,  partly  in  anticipation  of  this  volume,  in  which  I 
supposed  it  might  be  necessary  to  use  them.  After  consultation  with  the 
committee  for  the  publication  of  this  book,  I  have  concluded  to  republish 
here  the  strictly  historical  part  of  the  discourses  referred  to,  with  little 
more  abbreviation  than  is  necessary  to  avoid  repeating  what  has  already 
been  said  in  the  History  of  the  Second  Church  relating  to  the  junction  of 
the  two  churches,  and  events  subsequent  thereto. 


HISTOEY 


NEW     BRICK     CHURCH 


It  is  a  cause  of  unfeigned  regret,  that  the  otherwise  grati- 
fying retrospect  of  the  annals  of  the  New  Brick  Church  is 
alloyed  by  a  review  of  the  circumstances  under  which  it 
originated.  The  only  blot  upon  its  records  stains  their 
very  first  page.  Its  foundation  was  laid  in  dissension  and 
alienation  between  brethren  of  one  faith,  inhabitants  of 
one  neighborhood,  and  members  of  one  church. 

It  is  an  ungrateful  task  to  search  out  and  expose  the 
weaknesses  of  our  fathers.  Nor  have  I  any  heart  for  un- 
covering the  long-buried  animosities  that  once  subsisted 
between  two  churches,  which  for  these  many  years  have 
been  united  together  in  the  closest  intercourse,  and  the 
most  exemplary  harmony.  But  I  should  be  unfaithful  to 
the  duty  which  devolves  upon  me,  if  I  were  to  suffer  my- 
self to  be  deterred,  by  the  painfulness  of  the  undertaking, 
from  a  candid  and  faithful  statement  of  the  facts  and 
merits  of  the  controversy  which  resulted  in  the  building 
of  this  house.  Besides,  the  history  of  this  singular  trans- 
action is  of  itself  not  devoid  of  interest,  and  is  still  often 
22 


170  HISTORY     OF 

alluded  to,  though  with  a  very  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
facts  of  the  case.  An  indefinite  impression  prevails  in 
the  community  that  there  was  something  wrong  in  the 
origin  of  the  New  Brick  Church,  though  precisely  what 
the  wrong  was  is  not  understood.  It  becomes,  therefore, 
an  act  of  justice  to  its  founders  to  free  their  memory  from 
all  sweeping  and  vague  imputations,  and  to  lay  open  with 
discrimination  and  candor  the  real  nature  and  amount  of 
their  offending. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1719,  there  were 
two  congregational  churches  at  the  north  part  of  Boston, 
which  was  then  the  most  respectable  and  fashionable  sec- 
tion of  the  town.  The  one  at  the  head  of  the  North  Square 
was  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Drs.  Increase  and  Cotton 
Mather ;  and  the  other  at  the  corner  of  Clark  and  Hanover, 
then  called  North-street,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  John 
Webb.  Both  churches  were  flom*ishing  and  fully  at- 
tended, perfectly  harmonious  within  themselves  and  with 
each  other,  and  amply  adequate  to  the  accommodation 
of  all  in  the  neighborhood  who  might  desire  to  meet  in 
them  for  worship.  But  the  latter,  in  conformity  to  the 
custom  of  the  times,  began  to  be  desirous  of  settling  an 
assistant  pastor  for  the  more  effectual  furtherance  of  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  The  attention  of  several  members 
of  the  church  was  attracted  by  the  popularity  and  eminent 
gifts  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  then  over  the  church  in 
Weymouth.  A  determination  seems  to  have  existed  on 
the  part  of  some  of  the  New  North  Society,  from  the  very 
first  of  the  movement  towards  settling  a  colleague,  to 
secure  his  services,  if  possible,  at  all  hazards.     No  sooner 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  171 

was  this  purpose  apparent  than  many  of  the  congregation 
began  to  manifest  signs  of  disapprobation,  —  disapproba- 
tion founded  upon  the  conviction  that  it  was  not  right  for 
a  wealthier  society  to  entice  away  from  a  poorer  their 
minister.  "  Weymouth,"  said  they,  "  in  God's  sight,  is 
as  precious  as  Boston  ;  and  the  souls  there,  of  as  great 
worth  as  the  souls  here.  And  to  the  common  objection, 
that  it  is  a  pity  that  Mr.  Thacher,  being  so  bright  a  light, 
should  smoke  out  his  days  in  so  much  obscurity,  we 
answer,  first,  bright  lights  shine  brightest  in  the  darkest 
places ;  and,  secondly,  bright  lights  are  the  obscurer  for 
burning  in  a  room  where  there  are  more,  and  as  bright."  * 

No  other  adequate  motive  can  be  assigned  for  their  op- 
position or  their  subsequent  doings.  Mr.  Thacher  himself 
was  in  all  respects  such  a  minister  as  would  be  likely  to 
please  their  taste,  to  gratify  their  pride,  and  to  build  up  the 
church.  There  was  nothing  objectionable  in  Mr.  Webb, 
to  excite  their  aversion.  Nor  do  I  find  in  any  quarter  so 
much  as  a  hint,  that  there  were  any  latent  causes  of  divi- 
sion previously  existing  between  the  members  of  the 
society  themselves.  Nor  were  the  characters  of  those 
who  composed  the  opposition  such  as  to  warrant  the 
supposition  that  they  were  originally  actuated  by  unwor- 
thy motives,  or  lightly  instigated  to  the  course  they  took, 
or  moved  by  any  cherished  feelings  of  hostility  towards 
their  own  church.  On  the  contrary,  there  are  not  wanting 
indications,  on  the  part  of  some  of  their  number,  of  strong 
attachment  to  the  interests  of  the  New  North  Church. 
Several  of  them  had  been  amongst  the  most  influential  of 

*  See  Appendix  F. 


172  HISTORY     OF 

the  original  founders  of  that  society,  of  the  first  signers 
of  the  covenant,  and  of  the  building  committee  of  the 
church ;  one  had  been  donor  of  part  of  the  communion 
plate,  and,  more  recently,  of  a  bell ;  and  one  had  been  the 
first  choice  of  the  church  for  the  office  of  deacon. 

No  other  cause  can  be  found  for  the  origin  of  their 
disaffection,  save  that  which  is  assigned  by  themselves,  viz. 
an  insuperable  objection  against  calling  a  minister  away 
from  his  flock,  and  disapprobation  of  the  measures  taken 
by  Mr.  Thacher's  friends  to  unsettle  him  at  Weymouth. 

It  is  some  satisfaction,  then,  to  be  assured  that  there 
was  a  foundation  in  conscience  and  principle  for  the 
movement  of  the  founders  of  this  church,  however  blame- 
worthy may  have  been  the  heat  exhibited  by  them  in  the 
course  of  the  controversy.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt, 
that  they  were  perfectly  sincere  in  what  they  said  in  their 
"  memorial "  to  the  New  North  Church,  written  in  the  very 
height  of  the  difficulty.  "  We  should  think  ourselves 
obliged  to  love,  honor,  and  respect  you  more  than  ever,  if 
you  would  wholly  lay  aside  Mr.  Thacher,  who,  you  know, 
is  the  sole  cause  of  all  our  uneasiness."  When  we  take 
into  view  the  fact  that  the  two  parties  were  nearly  equal 
in  numbers,  and  that  Mr.  Thacher  was  finally  elected  by  a 
majority  of  only  one  (and  that,  as  has  been  said,  the  cast- 
ing vote  of  the  minister),  it  seems  strange  that  the  feelings 
of  the  memorialists  should  not  have  been  more  regarded. 
It  seems  strange  that  the  New  North  Church  and  its 
pastor  should  have  persisted  in  their  purpose  of  settling 
Mr.  Thacher,  against  the  wishes  of  so  large  a  portion  of 
the  congregation;   against  the  unanimous  advice   of  the 


THE     NEAV     BRICK     CHURCH.  173 

clergy  of  the  town ;  against  the  general  sense  of  the  reli- 
gious community,  and  at  the  risk  of  their  own  dismem- 
berment. There  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt,  that,  by  a 
more  moderate  and  pacific  course  on  their  part,  the  diffi- 
culty might  have  been  healed,  and  those  subsequent  dis- 
turbances prevented  which  are  a  perpetual  disgrace  to  all 
who  were  concerned  in  them.  The  counsel  of  such  men 
as  the  two  Mathers,  Benjamin  Wadsworth,  Benjamin  Col- 
man,  Joseph  Sewall,  Thomas  Prince,  and  "William  Cooper, 
—  all  of  them  names  justly  celebrated  in  the  churches  of 
Boston,  —  was  precisely  such  as  the  spirit  of  Christianity 
would  have  dictated.  "  We  apprehend,"  say  they,  in  a 
letter  signed  by  them  all,  "  that  it  would  be  best  that  the 
New  North  should  not  push  on  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Thacher,  and  that  you  should  not  engage  in  the  building  of 
a  new  meeting-house.  A  patient  waiting  may  cool  and 
calm  spirits  that  are  discomposed  and  heated.  Time,  by 
the  help  of  God,  may  give  more  light  to  us,  to  you,  to  Mr. 
Thacher,  Mr.  Webb,  and  the  New  North,  in  the  present 
affair,  than  we  have  hitherto  had.  In  a  way  of  patient 
waiting,  and  humble  supplications  to  heaven,  Providence 
may  possibly  clear  up  the  matters  that  are  dark  at  present ; 
so  that  all  concerned  may  at  last  join  in  some  issue  that 
may  be  holy,  peaceable,  and  comfortable.  Patient  and 
prayerful  waiting  is,  therefore,  what  we  think  best  at  pre- 
sent, and  what  we  advise  you  to ;  and  also  that  you  and 
your  brethren,  with  whom  you  are  dissatisfied,  would 
take  opportunities  to  confer  together  in  a  spirit  of  meek- 
ness, for  the  quieting  and  reconciling  your  spirits,  that  you 
may  again  be  united  in  love  as  formerly.     But,  if  conten- 


174  HISTORY     OF 

tions  and  division  should  prevail,  how  greatly  would  it 
dishonor  God,  gratify  the  devil,  grieve  the  godly,  and  hurt 
yourselves  and  others  too  I  " 

But  the  passions  and  prejudices  of  both  parties  had 
now  become  too  warmly  enlisted  to  suffer  them  to  give 
heed  to  the  instructions  of  Christian  wisdom  and  love. 
The  New  North  Church  pushed  matters  to  extremity,  and 
appointed  a  day  for  the  installation  of  Mr.  Thacher.  Tlie 
Boston  ministers  signified  their  unwillingness  to  sit  on  the 
installing  council.  The  day  appointed  for  the  installation 
arrived.  The  church  in  Milton,  under  the  care  of  a 
relative  of  the  candidate,  and  the  church  in  Rumney 
Marsh,  or  Chelsea,  under  that  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cheever, 
were  the  only  churches  represented  on  the  council.  In- 
deed, the  former  was  not  fairly  represented  at  all,  since  it 
had  voted  not  to  give  its  assistance,  and  its  pastor  at- 
tended the  council  in  opposition  to  its  vote. 

It  should  here  be  remarked,  that  on  the  evening  pre- 
vious to  the  day  of  installation,  it  being  feared  that  some 
disturbance  might  arise,  a  letter  was  addressed  to  the  party 
who  felt  themselves  aggrieved,  by  the  two  Mathers,  with 
the  advice  and  concurrence  of  the  other  ministers,  solemnly 
and  earnestly  beseeching  them  to  conduct  themselves  on 
the  morrow  with  moderation  and  decorum.  "  We  ear- 
nestly inculcate  upon  you,"  says  the  epistle,  "  that  ancient 
advice,  '  Cease  from  anger  and  forsake  wrath ;  fret  not 
yourselves  in  anywise  to  do  evil.'  "We  particularly  advise, 
exhort,  and  entreat  you,  that  on  the  morrow  you  forbear 
and  prevent  every  thing  that  may  be  of  a  riotous  or  too 
clamorous  aspect ;  and  let  nothing  be  done  but  what  shall 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  175 

become  sober  Christians  and  the  well-advised.  And,  what- 
soever shall  be  spoke,  let  it  be  in  the  decent,  modest,  and 
peaceable  manner  which  may  adorn  your  profession  of 
Christianity.  Your  cause  will  not  be  the  worse  for  your 
observing  a  conduct  entirely  under  the  law  of  goodness." 
It  is  also  worthy  of  notice,  that,  this  letter  being  read  to 
them,  a  great  number  of  the  dissentients  agreed  to  comply 
with  its  advice.  And,  doubtless,  they  would  have  adhered 
to  this  good  intention,  if  they  had  not  been  grievously 
exasperated  by  the  organization  and  conduct  of  the  coun- 
cil. How  could  they  have  been  otherwise  than  sorely 
vexed,  at  finding  so  small  a  council  —  consisting  of  but 
two  members,  and  only  one  of  them  present  by  the  vote  of 
his  church  —  convened  on  so  important  an  occasion,  and 
evidently  determined  to  thwart  their  wishes,  and  to  carry 
on,  at  all  risks,  the  solemn  business  of  the  day !  In  such  a 
state  of  feeling  as  then  existed,  it  was  hardly  to  be  ex- 
pected that  their  indignation  should  not  have  been  roused 
to  the  highest  pitch.  The  consequences  that  followed 
were  chargeable  to  the  council  more  than  to  themselves. 
Nor  were  the  council  without  anticipation  of  the  disorders 
which  were  likely  to  ensue ;  for,  being  afraid  of  confusion 
and  violence,  if  they  passed  through  the  public  streets, 
they  were  led  out  through  the  back  gate  of  Mr.  Webb's 
garden  (which  covered  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
church  at  the  corner  of  Salem  and  Bennet-streets),  across 
Tileston-street,  then  called  Love  Lane,  and  through  an 
alley  which  opens  immediately  in  front  of  the  New  North 
Meeting-house ;  and  thus  were  enabled,  by  stratagem,  to 
obtain  possession  of  the  pulpit. 


176  HISTORY     OF 

The  tumultuous  scene  which  followed  their  appearance 
in  the  church,  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe.  The  accounts 
of  it  which  have  come  down  to  us  have  the  appearance 
of  great  exaggeration.  But  the  doings  of  men  in  an  hour  of 
excited  passion  conform  to  no  rule.  At  such  times,  all 
ordinary  standards  of  propriety  and  decency  are  liable  to 
be  set  at  nought,  and  all  feeling  of  veneration  forgotten ; 
whilst  even  the  consecrated  altar,  and  the  more  solemn  ser- 
vices of  religion,  may  be  profaned  by  those  who,  in  their 
sober  moments,  would  be  the  last  to  countenance  an  act 
of  desecration.  In  the  midst  of  the  uproar,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cheever,  having  gone  through  the  usual  ceremony  of  ask- 
ing the  votes  of  the  church  in  confirmation  of  their  choice 
of  the  candidate,  and  having  heard  his  public  acceptance  of 
their  call,  proceeded  to  proclaim  "  the  Rev.  Peter  Thacher 
to  be  the  pastor  of  the  New  North  Church,  regularly  in- 
ducted into  the  sacred  office." 

Such,  my  friends,  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of 
the  difficulties  which  led  to  the  building  of  this  house.  I 
have  endeavored  to  relate  it  with  perfect  fairness.  If 
I  have  stated  the  case  too  favorably  on  the  side  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  Brick  Church,  it  is  not  because  I 
have  wished  to  defend  them  by  warping  the  truth,  but 
because  such  is  my  deliberate  judgment,  formed  after  long 
and  careful  investigation  of  all  the  documents  which  I 
have  been  able  to  procure.  That  they  were  not  free  from 
undue  passion  in  their  conduct  of  the  controversy,  I  have 
not  denied.  We  cannot  but  regret  that  their  cause  was 
not  managed  with  a  better  temper.  But  their  opposition 
was   based    on  principle ;    and  the  first  impulse  of  their 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  177 

movement  was  a  conscientious  scruple  which  commands 
respect. 

Immediately  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Thacher,  the 
dissentients  withdrew,  and  adopted  measures  for  erecting 
the  building  we  now  occupy.      The  number  of  the  first 
associates  was  twenty-four.     Their  first  meeting  was  held 
on  the  14th  of   November,  1720 ;    at  which  time  it  was 
"  voted,  that  some  of  them  should  treat  with  Mr.  Thomas 
Roby,  of  Cambridge,  for  the  purchase  of  a  certain  tract  or 
piece  of  land,"  a  suitable  lot  for  a  church.     These  asso- 
ciates "  advanced  and  paid  for  said   land  in  equal   pro- 
portion ;    which,  w^ith  the  charges    arising   on   the    same, 
amounted  to  twenty-three  pounds  ten  shillings  from  each, 
or  five  hundred  and  sixty-four  pounds."     On  the  12th  of 
December,  a  building-committee  of  seven  was  chosen,  "  to 
agree  with  workmen  to  erect,  build,  and  finish    a   brick 
house,  suitable  for  the  public  worship  of  God,  with  all  con- 
venient speed  and  despatch,  according  to  a  plan   offered 
to  the  society  by  Edward   Pell,"   one  of  the  committee. 
The  same  committee  was  also  clothed  with  authority  to 
admit  sixteen  more  members  into  the  society,  upon  pay- 
ment of  the  same  sum  contributed  by  the  original  pro- 
prietors.    The  desired  number  of  forty  was  soon  complete. 
The  house  being  finished,  the  forty  proprietors  assembled 
on  the  5th  of  May  for  the  choice  of  pews.     The  first  choice 
was  given  to  John  Frisell  and  William  Clark,  "for  their 
great  good-will  and  benefactions  to  said  work,"  then  to  the 
rest  of  the  building  committee,  and  then  to  the  other  pro- 
prietors, determined  by  lot.     On  the  next  day,  the  remain- 
der of  the  pews  on  the  lower  floor  were  distributed  by  lot 
23 


178  HISTORY     OF 

amongst  such  buyers  "  as  it  had  been  thought  for  the  inter- 
est of  the  society  to  allow  to  become  their  purchasers ; " 
and,  on  the  8th  of  May,  the  same  order  was  taken  in 
regard  to  the  distiibution  of  the  pews  in  the  gallery. 

The  10th  of  May,  1721,  had  been  agreed  upon  for  the 
dedication  of  the  house,  to  be  kept  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  "to  beg  the  smiles  of  Divine  Providence  on  the 
proprietors,  and  all  others  that  shall   be   concerned  with 
them."      Dr.  Increase   Mather  was  desired  to  preach  the 
forenoon  sermon  on  that  occasion ;  but  he  excused  himself 
by  reason  of  his  great  age.     He,  however,  consented  to 
commence  the  morning  services  with  prayer.     A  sermon 
followed  from  Cotton  Mather,  on  the  words  of  the  tenth 
verse  of  the  twenty-fourth  Psalm  :  "  Who  is  this  King  of 
Glory?      The  Lord  of   Hosts,  he  is  the  King  of  Glory." 
Dr.    Wniiam    Cooper,   colleague   pastor   of   Brattle-street, 
offered  the  concluding  prayer.     The  exercises  of  the  after- 
noon  began   with   prayer  by  Dr.   Benjamin    Colman,   of 
Brattle-street.     Mr.  Wads  worth,  of  the  First  Church,  after- 
wards President  of  Harvard  College,  preached  from  Reve- 
lation, second  chapter  and  first  verse  :  "  Unto  the  angel  of 
the  church  of  Ephesus,  write :   These  things  saith  he  that 
holdeth  the  seven  stars  in  his  right  hand,  who  walketh  in 
the  midst  of  the  golden  candlesticks." 

"  The  house,"  says  Mr.  Ware,  "  appears  to  have  been 
regarded  at  that  time,  and  for  many  years  after,  as  a  build- 
ing of  uncommon  elegance  and  taste.  The  preacher  ex- 
pressed only  the  common  opinion  when  he  said,  '  I 
suppose  that  there  is  not  in  all  the  land  a  more  beautiful 
house  built  for  the  worship  of  God  than  this,  whereof  you 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  179 

now  appear  to  make  a  dedication  unto  the  Lord.  But 
what  will  it  signify,'  he  added,  '  if  the  beauty  of  holiness 
be  not  here  ?  '  " 

The  house,  as  we  remember  it,  especially  in  the  interior, 
gives  but  a  faint  idea  of  its  original  appearance.  The 
pulpit  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  north  side.  In  front  of  it 
were  two  enclosures,  one  a  little  more  elevated  than  the 
other,  for  the  elders'  and  deacons'  seats.  On  each  side 
of  the  broad  aisle,  in  front  of  the  pews,  were  several  long 
seats  for  the  aged.  The  pews  were  square.  There  were 
two  rows  of  galleries  on  the  west  side,  one  on  the  south, 
and  one  on  the  east.  The  last  was  called  the  "  M^omen's 
gallery ; "  and  the  others,  the  "  men's."  The  only  access  to 
these  galleries  was  by  flights  of  stairs  on  the  inside  of  the 
house.  The  upper  gallery  appears  to  have  been  but  little 
used,  except  by  boys,  who  sometimes  resorted  there  to 
play  during  service ;  for  which  reason  the  entrance  to  it 
was  most  of  the  time  kept  closed,  till  the  year  1808,  when 
it  was  converted  into  a  hall  for  social  meetings  and  the 
use  of  the  singers.  A  timepiece,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Barret 
Dyre,  in  1721,  hung  opposite  to  the  pulpit,  and  kept  its 
place  till  1820,  when  it  was  replaced  by  another,  through 
the  liberality  of  the  late  Samuel  Parkman,  Esq.  *  The 
exterior  of  the  house  was  not  at  first  painted.  The  spire 
was  without  bell  or  dial.  There  were  porches  of  entrance 
on  the  west,  south,  and  east.  The  whole  space  in  the  rear 
of  the  church  to  what  was  then  called  Fore-street,  now 
Ann-street,  was  vacant,  and  probably  the  ground  was 
open  for  some  distance  on  both  sides ;  which,  as  the  church 

*  See  Appendix  G. 


180  HISTORY     OF 

occupies  a  small  eminence,  gave  it  at  that  period  a  com- 
manding aspect. 

The  mode  of  conducting  the  public  services  was  also 
very  different  from  the  present.  The  Scriptures  were  not 
read  till  the  year  1729,  when  the  proprietors  "  voted,  that 
the  Bible  offered  to  the  church  by  Captain  Henry  Deering, 
in  order  for  the  minister's  reading  or  explaining,  be  ac- 
cepted ;  and  also  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  make 
choice  of  a  convenient  place  for  laying  the  Bible  when 
made  use  of;"  which  last  vote  clearly  shows,  that  the 
original  pulpit  was  constructed  in  a  different  manner  from 
the  present.  Another  difference  is  indicated  in  the  follow- 
ing vote,  viz.  "  that  ]\Ii-.  John  Waldo  read  the  Psalm,"  — 
that  is,  line  by  line,  —  "  and  Mr.  Moses  Pearce  set  the  tune, 
until  further  notice."  It  is  probable  that,  at  this  period, 
there  was  ordinarily  but  one  psalm  sung  in  the  course  of 
each  service ;  and,  as  there  was  no  instrumental  music  and 
no  reading  of  the  Bible,  what  we  have  heard  of  the  length 
of  the  sermons  and  the  prayers,  and  of  the  patience  of  the 
hearers  during  the  same,  will  appear  the  less  surprising,  as 
the  whole  time  occupied  by  the  worship  could  not  have 
been  much  longer  than  in  our  own  day. 

A  church  was  first  gathered  amongst  the  worshippers 
on  the  22d  day  of  May,  1722.  The  only  creed  which  is 
attached  to  the  covenant  is  of  the  very  simplest  and  most 
general  form,  being  embodied  in  these  words :  "  We  declare 
our  serious  belief  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  contained  in 
the  Sacred  Scriptures."  An  acknowledgment  of  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Trinity  is,  however,  implied  in  the  phraseology 
of  several  of  the  obligations.     The  covenant  is  not  lengthy. 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  181 

being  little  more  than  an  engagement  to  live  a  life  of  obedi- 
ence to  Christ,  to  love  and  watch  over  one  another,  and  to 
keep  all  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel ;  with  the  addition  of 
"  an  offering  and  presentation  of  their  seed  unto  the  Lord, 
and  a  promise  to  do  their  part  in  the  methods  of  a  religious 
education,  so  that  their  children  also  may  be  the  Lord's." 

The  same  day  on  which  the  church  was  gathered, 
William  Waldron,  the  first  pastor,  was  ordained.  He  had 
preached  for  some  time  as  a  candidate,  in  connection 
with  Mr.  Joshua  Gee,  afterwards  pastor  of  the  Old  North 
Church.  He  was  chosen  on  the  26th  of  September,  1721 ; 
having  received  fifty  votes,  and  Mr.  Gee  thirteen.  He  was 
the  last  who  received  ordination  at  the  hands  of  the  vene- 
rable Increase  Mather. 

Ml".  Waldron  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  most  respec- 
table and  influential  families  in  New  Hampshire.  He  was 
son  of  Col.  Richard  Waldron,  of  Portsmouth,  and  grandson 
of  Major  Richard  Waldron,  of  Dover,  —  the  story  of  whose 
tragical  end  is  one  of  the  most  affecting  in  the  annals  of 
our  early  Indian  wars.  He  was  born  at  Portsmouth  on 
the  4th  of  November,  1697,  and  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1717.  His  ministry  of  only  five  years  was  too 
short  to  make  full  proof  of  his  plans  and  capacities  of 
usefulness ;  but  few  clergymen  have  been  more  affection- 
ately commemorated  by  their  professional  associates.  The 
library  of  our  church  contains  a  volume  of  sermons  which 
were  preached  on  the  occasion  of  his  death  by  the  most 
celebrated  of  his  compeers.  In  reading  these,  it  is  doubt- 
less necessary  to  make  considerable  allowance  for  the 
naturally  exaggerated  encomiums  of  warm  personal  friend- 


182  HISTORY     OF 

ship,  and  freshly  excited  sympathy.      But,  when  this  is 
done  to  the  fullest  extent,  there  remains  indubitable  evi- 
dence that  the  character  of  the  first  minister  of  the  New 
Brick  Church  was  of  more  than  ordinary  worth.     To  a 
finished  education  was  superadded  the  still  more  excellent 
qualification  for  the  ministry,  the  gi-ace  of  early  piety.     His 
most  intimate  friend,  Dr.  Cooper,  dwells  particularly  upon 
this  characteristic,  and   illustrates   it  by  a  brief  anecdote 
which  has  so  much  of  the  savor  of  that  old  time  that  I 
am  tempted  to  repeat  it.     "  In  his  early  childhood,"  says 
Dr.    Cooper,   "  a  particular   Providence  set  the  wheel   of 
prayer   a-going,  and   I   believe   it   never  wholly    stopped 
afterwards.      This  he  once  gave  me  an  account  of  in  a 
retired  conversation,  and  I  suppose  I  was  the  only  person 
to  whom  he  mentioned  it.     His  dear  parents  were  gone 
somewhere   by  water,  when  a  storm  arose  with  sudden 
gusts  of  wind,  when  it  was  supposed  they  were  returning 
home.     The  little  boy  heard  his  family  speak  of  the  danger 
they  might  be  in.     This  so  alarmed  his  fear,  that  he  went 
away  alone  to  seek   God  in  their  behalf,  and  pray  that 
they  might  be  preserved  and  returned  in  safety.      And, 
having  begun  thus  successfully  to   pray  for   his  parents, 
he  afterw'^ards  continued  to  pray  for  himself.     I  also  know," 
said  he,  "  that,  while  at  college,  he  was  one  of  those  young 
students  who  used  to  meet  on  the  evening  of  the  Lord's 
day,  for  prayer  and  other  exercises  of  social  religion." 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  remarkable  for  soundness  of 
argument,  plainness  and  directness  of  speech,  and  gravity 
of  manner.  His  temper  was  naturally  obliging,  and  his 
affections  warm  ;  whilst,  at  the  same  time,  he  was  too  inde- 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  183 

pendent  to  stoop  to  any  little  acts  to  conciliate  favor,  and 
too  stern  in  integrity  ever  to  prostitute  his  conscience.  He 
was,  like  most  of  the  clergymen  of  New  England,  a  hearty 
patriot,  and  a  steady  friend  and  advocate  of  all  the  civil 
privileges  which  the  people  then  enjoyed.  He  was  also  a 
strict  and  very  zealous  Congregationalist.  If  he  had  lived 
longer,  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  would  have  exerted  a 
powerful  influence  in  the  community,  and  have  left  more 
conspicuous  memorials  upon  the  records  of  this  church. 
But  Providence  had  another  destiny  in  store  for  him.  His 
death  took  place  on  the  11th  of  September,  1727.  "  He 
died,"  says  Cotton  Mather,  "  nobly.  So  to  die  is  indeed  no 
dying.  'Tis  but  flying  away,  with  the  wings  of  the  morn- 
ing, into  the  paradise  of  God."  * 

Mr.  William  Welsteed  was  chosen  successor  of  Mr. 
Waldron,  on  the  16th  of  January,  1727.  He  was  born  in 
Boston  in  1695.  He  had  been  a  tutor  at  the  college  for 
several  years,  and  appears  to  have  attracted  some  notice  as 
a  preacher  before  his  invitation  to  settle  over  this  church. 
I  find  it  stated  in  a  century  sermon,  delivered  at  Weston, 
by  Dr.  Samuel  Kendall,  in  1813,  that  Mr.  Welsteed  re- 
ceived a  call  to  be  the  minister  of  the  church  in  that  town, 
in  August,  1722.  He  had  also  preached  with  much  appro- 
bation, as  a  candidate,  at  Portsmouth.  It  is  somewhat 
singular,  in  relation  to  his  preaching  at  the  latter  place, 
that  several  letters  have  been  preserved,  and  are  now  in  my 
possession,  from  our  first  pastor,  Mr.  Waldron,  to  his  bro- 
ther Richard,  in  Portsmouth,  in  wliich  he  speaks  of  Mr. 
Welsteed  in  the  following  terms :  "  He  is  a  good  man,  and 

*  See  Appendix  H. 


184  HISTORY     OF 

true ;  a  good  scholar,  a  good  preacher,  and  a  gentlemanly 
man,  I  am  sooth  to  say ;  but,  all  things  considered,  I  don't 
think  he  would  suit  Portsmouth  so  well  as  some  others." 
He  alludes  here  to  Professor  Wigglesworth,  to  whom  he 
was  devotedly  attached,  and  whom  he  used  all  his  efforts 
to  have  chosen  by  the  society  in  Portsmouth,  of  which  his 
brother  was  one  of  the  most  influential  members.  | 

Mr.  Welsteed  continued  the  sole  minister  of  this  church 
for  about  ten  years,  when  Mi*.  Ellis  Gray  was  unanimously 
chosen  to  the  office  of  colleague-pastor.  He  was  son  of 
Mr.  Edward  Gray,  who,  in  early  life,  came  over  from 
England  to  this  country ;  and,  by  industry  and  integrity, 
amassed  a  considerable  fortune,  —  a  man  eminently  cha- 
ritable and  universally  esteemed,  to  whose  virtues  and 
beneficence  a  high,  tribute  remains,  in  a  funeral  sermon, 
preached  by  Mr.  Chauncy  on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Welsteed  and  Mr.  Gray  were  both  of  them  men  of 
respectable  talents,  but  in  no  respect  remarkably  distin- 
guished. They  lived  harmoniously  together  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  professional  duties,  and  fulfilled  a  plain  and 
useful  ministry.  I  can  add  nothing  to  the  record  which 
Mr.  Ware  has  given  of  the  history  of  the  church  whilst 
under  their  charge.  "  It  was  at  this  period  that  our  Friday 
evening  lecture  before  the  communion  was  established,  and 
the  old  custom  was  dropped  of  singing  by  the  separate 
reading  of  each  line.  In  1751,  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns 
were  introduced  in  the  worship  of  the  sabbath,  and  con- 
tinued in  use  until  superseded  by  Belknap's  Collection  in 
1817,  a  period  of  sixty-six  years." 

t  See  Appendix  I. 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  185 

Mr.  Welsteed's  true  character  is  doubtless  depicted  by 
one  of  his  contemporaries,  who  said  of  him,  that  he  was 
an  excellent  Christian,  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and 
exemplary  minister ;  amiable  and  engaging  in  his  conduct, 
and  lovely  in  his  temper ;  living  a  benevolent,  gracious,  and 
useful  life.  Mr.  Gray  is  described  as  a  man  of  candor, 
prudence,  and  sincerity;  of  solid  judgment  and  warm 
heart ;  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  whole  of  his  sacred  office ; 
of  clear  and  pathetic  elocution,  and  of  uncommon  com- 
mand of  devotional  sentiment  in  his  prayers ;  honest  and 
firm  in  his  principles,  kind  and  obliging  to  all,  and  uni- 
versally respected  by  the  friends  of  piety  and  virtue. 

"  The  circumstances  attending  the  death  of  these  two 
ministers  were  remarkable  and  melancholy.  Gray,  the 
junior  pastor,  died  suddenly  of  the  palsy,  on  the  Lord's 
day,  January  7,  1753,  in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  fifteenth  of  his  ministry.  His  senior  colleague 
survived  him  not  quite  four  months.  He  died  on  the  29th 
of  April,  having  been  also  struck  with  the  palsy  in  church, 
on  Sunday,  just  after  the  commencement  of  his  morning 
prayer;  having  lived  fifty-seven  years,  and  been  minister 
twenty-five.  Here  was  the  melancholy  spectacle  of  a 
church  in  mourning  for  two  pastors  at  once ;  both  cut  off 
suddenly  in  the  midst  of  life.  And,  to  render  the  visitation 
yet  more  affecting,  they  both  died  of  the  same  disease,  both 
died  on  the  sabbath,  both  on  the  communion-sabbath,  and 
both  at  the  same  time  of  the  day ;  each  having  preached 
for  the  last  time  to  his  own  people,  and  the  last  sermon 
preached  by  both  being  on  the  same  text,  '  Redeeming  the 
time  because  the  days  are  evil.'  "  * 

*  Mr.  Ware's  Centui-y  Sermon. 
24 


186  HISTORY     OF 

Before  proceeding  with  our  record,  it  may  be  useful  to 
take  a  brief  survey  of  the  rehgious  aspects  of  the  commu- 
nity, during  the  thirty  years  which  had  now  elapsed  since 
the  gathering  of  the  New  Brick  Church. 

At  that  period,  Boston  enjoyed  the  labors  of  an  emi- 
nently pious  and  learned  ministry.  Cotton  Mather,  in  his 
peculiar  style,  in  allusion  to  this  fact,  exclaims,  "  O  city, 
highly  favored  of  the  Lord !  how  canst  thou  be  too  thank- 
ful for  such  inestimable  blessings !  The  whole  country 
will  feel  the  sweet  influences  of  more  than  seven  stars  that 
irradiate  its  metropolis."  Notwithstanding,  however,  the 
sweet  influences  of  these  luminaries,  it  is  sufficiently  evi- 
dent that  there  was  but  little  religious  life  manifested  in 
the  churches.  There  were,  indeed,  general  complaints 
amongst  pious  and  elderly  persons,  of  a  great  decay  of 
godliness ;  and  expressions  of  discouragement  at  the  reli- 
gious and  moral  declension  of  the  community  were  fre- 
quent on  the  lips  of  the  clergy.  In  this  state  of  things,  all 
the  usual,  and  many  unusual,  methods  were  resorted  to,  to 
produce  one  of  those  "  revivals  of  religion,"  which,  in  those 
days,  as  well  as  in  our  own,  were  held  by  many  in  the 
highest  esteem.  All  these  efforts,  however,  appear  to  have 
met  with  very  little  success,  until  the  year  1727,  when  an 
event  occurred,  which,  under  the  management  of  zealous 
religionists,  was  well  calculated  to  produce  the  desired 
effect.  On  the  night  of  Sunday,  Oct.  29th,  in  this  year, 
the  whole  country  was  visited  with  a  violent  shock  of  an 
earthquake,  the  sound  and  shaking  of  which  are  described 
as  having  been  terrific  at  Boston,  and  to  have  carried  the 
greatest  consternation  to  the  inhabitants,  who  were  roused 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  187 

from  their  sleep  by  such  an  unusual  and  startling  pheno- 
menon. On  the  next  day,  and  for  several  succeeding  days, 
the  churches  were  crowded ;  and,  by  the  proclamation  of 
the  commander-in-chief,  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was 
appointed,  to  supplicate  the  mercy  of  God,  and  especially 
the  "  conversion  of  the  people."  As  may  well  be  supposed, 
a  great  religious  excitement  was  the  result  of  these  mea- 
sures, and  many  were  awakened  and  added  to  the  churches. 
But,  with  the  subsiding  of  the  alarm,  the  interest  also  soon 
passed  away;  and  the  historian  of  the  times,  who  was 
himself  a  friend  to  such  excitements,  is  compelled  in  fair- 
ness to  confess,  that  the  professions  of  many  were  but  as 
the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew.* 

Things  continued  in  about  the  same  condition  until 
the  year  1740,  when  many  of  the  ministry,  having  heard 
from  across  the  ocean  the  fame  of  the  success  which 
followed  the  preaching  of  the  renowned  George  White- 
field,  sent  him  an  invitation  to  visit  this  country.  In 
compliance  with  their  request,  he  arrived  in  Boston,  on  his 
first  visit,  in  the  month  of  September,  1740.  The  people 
flocked  in  crowds  to  hear  him.  Ministers,  as  well  as  their 
congregations,  were  powerfully  impressed  by  his  preaching. 
Meetings  were  multiplied.  A  universal  awakening  ensued, 
and  multitudes  were  added  to  many  of  the  churches.  The 
pastors  of  this  church  were  not  unfriendly  to  these  proceed- 
ings, though  they  appear  to  have  taken  no  very  active 
interest  or  conspicuous  part  in  them.  The  records  of  that 
period  are  very  imperfect,  and  it  is  impossible  to  determine 
with  accuracy  how  far  this  church  was  affected  by  the 

*  Prince's  Christian  History. 


188  HISTORY     OF 

general  increase.  It  is,  however,  perfectly  clear  that  the 
congregation  passed  with  steadiness  and  dignity  through 
the  dissensions  and  agitations  which  attended  and  followed 
that  period  of  unprecedented  excitement.  With  prudent 
and  moderate  men  at  the  helm  of  its  affairs,  if  it  did  not 
enjoy,  to  the  same  degree  with  some  others,  the  good  and 
valuable  fruits  of  the  great  awakening,  neither  did  it 
greatly  suffer  from  its  extravagancies  and  ill  effects.  For  a 
sober  review  of  that  interesting  period  of  our  ecclesiastical 
history  will  easily  lead  us  to  the  conclusion,  that  in  this,  as 
in  all  other  seasons  of  extraordinary  excitement,  the  good 
was  not  unmixed  with  evil,  and  that  much  of  what  was 
gained  to  the  interests  of  true  Christianity  by  an  increase 
of  fervor  was  lost  to  the  same  by  a  diminution  of  charity, 
moderation,  and  discretion. 

In  relation  to  the  affairs  of  the  church  during  the 
period  of  which  we  are  speaking,  a  few  particulars  only 
require  our  notice,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  already 
related. 

The  interests  of  the  society  had  been  generally  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  The  congregation  was  rent  by  no 
intestine  divisions.  The  ancient  feud  with  its  neighbor 
and  mother,  the  New  North,  had  been  healed,  and  well- 
nigh  forgotten.  The  greatest  attachment  had  been  felt  to 
its  three  pastors,  and  every  mark  of  attention  and  respect 
that  they  could  have  desired  had  been  shown  to  them.  In 
their  lives,  they  were  repeatedly  furnished  with  help  in  the 
supply  of  the  pulpit,  even  for  months  at  a  time,  and  were 
gratified  with  valuable  presents  of  wood  and  money,  in 
addition  to  their  regular  stipend.      In  their  sickness,  the 


THE     NEAV     BRICK     CHURCH.  189 

church  had  variously  ministered  to  their  comfort,  and  kept 
days  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  their  recovery ;  and,  when 
they  died,  their  funeral  obsequies  were  performed  at  the 
charge  of  the  parish,  with  demonstrations  of  unfeigned 
respect;  and  their  names  were  cherished  in  gi-ateful  remem- 
brance. Indeed,  it  is  particularly  and  emphatically  said 
in  the  obituary  notices  of  Waldron,  that  "  the  great  and 
exemplary  respect"  shown  by  this  society  to  their  minister 
"  deserved  to  be  everywhere  told  as  a  memorial  of  them." 

The  house,  moreover,  had  been  several  times  repaired, 
and  gradually  beautified.  A  bell  had  been  hung  in  its 
tower,  and  its  walls  handsomely  painted.  And  every  thing 
within  and  without  the  building  presented  an  appearance 
indicative  of  the  good  condition  of  the  parish,  and  grati- 
fying to  all  who  loved  the  place  where  God's  honor 
dwelleth.* 

Nearly  a  year  elapsed  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Welsteed, 
before  the  appointment  of  a  successor.  The  unanimous 
choice  of  the  church,  and  a  very  large  vote  of  the  congre- 
gation, selected  for  this  office  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pember- 
ton,  whose  installation  took  place  on  the  6th  of  March, 
1754. 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  son  of  an  eminent  clergyman,  of 
the  same  name,  who  was  for  many  years  pastor  of  the 
Old  South  Church.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  he  had 
been  chaplain  at  Castle  William.  In  April,  1727,  he 
had  received  an  invitation  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  New  York  to  settle  as  their  minister,  with  the 
request  that  he  should  be  ordained  in  Boston.  Accord- 
•  See  Appendix  J. 


190  HISTORY     OF 

ingly,  his  ordination  took  place  on  the  9th  of  August,  in 
that  year ;  from  which  period  he  resided  in  New  York, 
in  the  charge  of  the  above-named  church,  for  twenty-two 
years.  Of  the  manner  in  which  he  discharged  his  duties 
in  that  city,  I  find  the  most  honorable  mention  made  in 
Smith's  History  of  New  York.  It  is  there  said  of  him, 
that  he  was  a  man  of  polite  breeding,  pure  morals,  and 
warm  devotion ;  under  whose  incessant  labors  the  con- 
gregation greatly  increased,  and  was  enabled  to  erect  a 
spacious  church  in  1748.  But,  on  account  of  trifling  con- 
tentions, kindled  by  the  bigotry  and  ignorance  of  the  lower 
sort  of  people,  he  at  length  requested  his  dismission. 
There  is  preserved  on  our  records  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  signed  by  the  father  of  the 
late  Aaron  Burr,  as  moderator,  conveying  the  most  honora- 
ble testimony  of  the  Presbytery  to  Mr.  Pemberton's  "  mini- 
sterial dignity,  abilities,  and  success,  and  their  cheerful 
recommendation  of  him  as  an  eminently  endowed  and 
highly  esteemed  preacher." 

As  soon  as  this  society  heard  of  his  intention  to  leave 
New  York,  they  became  eager  to  engage  his  services,  as 
he  was  regarded  at  that  time  a  gifted  and  powerful 
preacher.  At  the  period  of  his  settlement  here,  he  enjoyed 
a  degree  of  popularity  such  as  had  fallen  to  the  lot  of  few 
who  had  ever  stood  in  a  Boston  pulpit,  and  attracted  to 
this  house  a  crowded  congregation.  But  he  lived  to  expe- 
rience, even  beyond  what  is  usual  in  such  cases,  the  pro- 
verbial fickleness  of  popular  favor.  In  the  latter  part  of 
his  life,  his  congregation  sadly  dwindled.  Instead  of  the 
throngs  which  used  to  gather  before  him,  his  eye  looked 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  191 

down  upon  only  a  few  familiar  faces  scattered  about 
amongst  almost  empty  pews.  But  the  declension  of  his 
fame  was  not  more  attributable  to  any  deterioration  of 
his  ability,  than  to  the  influence  of  political  odium.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  North  End,  as  is  well  known,  were 
almost  all  of  them  stanch  and  uncompromising  whigs. 
Dr.  Pemberton  was  a  warm  friend  of  Governor  Hutchinson, 
who  was  a  worshipper  at  his  church,  and  therefore  fell 
under  the  suspicion  of  sharing  his  attachment  to  the  tory 
interest.  For  this  reason,  doubtless,  some  of  his  congrega- 
tion left  him. 

As  the  war  of  the  Revolution  approached.  Dr.  Pember- 
ton's  health  declined,  and  the  condition  of  his  parish 
became  feeble  and  discouraging.  At  no  other  period  in  its 
history  were  its  affairs  at  so  low  an  ebb.  Efforts  were 
made  to  settle  a  colleague  who  might  redeem  the  credit  of 
the  church,  —  but  in  vain.  Several  distinguished  young 
men  were  selected  as  candidates ;  —  amongst  others,  Mr. 
Buckminster,  the  father  of  the  lamented  Buckminster  of 
Boston,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Story,  afterwards  of  Marblehead.* 
The  former  was  most  agi-eeable  to  Dr.  Pemberton ;  the 
latter,  to  his  parishioners.  But  the  troubles  of  the  year 
1775  put  an  end  to  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society.  At 
the  close  of  the  month  of  April  in  that  year,  the  inhabitants 
generally  left  Boston,  and  this  house  was  closed. 

The  desecration  of  several  of  our  churches  by  the 
British,  during  the  blockade  of  Boston,  is  a  matter  of  his- 
tory, with  which  you  are  familiar.  Whilst  the  Old  North 
was  demolished,  the  Old  South  turned  into  a  circus,  and 
*  See  Appendix  K. 


192  HISTORY     OF 

the  steeple  of  the  West  Church  torn  down,  no  violence 
was  offered  to  the  New  Brick ;  partly,  it  may  be,  for  the 
reason,  that  its  pastor  had  given  no  cause  of  offence  to  his 
country's  enemies,  and  that  its  most  distinguished  worship- 
per w^as  their  ally  and  friend. 

Dr.  Pemberton  resided,  during  the  siege,  at  Andover. 
His  health  had  been  for  some  time  feeble,  and  his  pulpit 
had  been  supplied  for  several  months  before  he  left  the 
town.  Indeed,  he  had,  for  a  long  time  previous,  gene- 
rously relinquished  his  salary,  and,  from  the  beginning  of 
February,  1774,  never  received  any  thing  from  the  parish. 
I  cannot  ascertain,  that,  after  the  evacuation  of  the  town, 
he  ever  appeared  in  the  pulpit.  It  is  probable  that  his 
increasing  infirmities  prevented  him  even  from  attending 
worship.  No  notice  is  made  of  him  at  this  time  on  our 
records  ;  nor  have  I  been  able  to  ascertain  any  thing  more 
concerning  the  circumstances  of  his  death,  than  is  con- 
tained in  a  single  sentence  in  an  old  newspaper :  "  On 
Tuesday  morning  last,  September  9,  1779,  departed  this 
life,  after  a  long  confinement,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton  ;  his 
funeral  to  be  attended  this  p.m.  at  three  o'clock."  His  con- 
nection with  the  society  was  never  formally  dissolved,  but 
gradually  loosened,  till  at  length  it  existed  merely  in  name.* 

But  I  cannot  dismiss  this  brief  notice  of  the  ministry 
of  Dr.  Pemberton,  without  allusion  to  a  single  circum- 
stance, which  is  of  too  gratifying  a  nature  not  to  be  com- 
memorated on  this  occasion.  The  neighboring  Baptist 
society,  then  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Stillman,  in  the 
spring  of  1771,  being  about  to  build  a  new  church,  made 
*  See  Appendix  L. 


TUE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  193 

application  for  the  use  of  the  house  belonging  to  our 
ancestors,  till  such  time  as  their  own  should  be  fit  for  wor- 
ship. The  request  was  unanimously  and  most  cordially- 
granted  ;  and,  from  June  till  December  of  that  year,  the 
two  congregations  worshipped  together,  the  pastors  of  both 
officiating  by  turns.  The  texts,  both  of  the  first  and  last  of 
Dr.  Stillman's  sermons,  have  been  preserved  on  our  records, 
with  strong  commendation  of  the  discourses.  What 
volumes  of  Christian  sentiment  do  these  texts  convey! 
Would  that  their  spirit  had  never  been  departed  from  by 
the  succeeding  members  of  either  or  of  any  denomination ! 
His  subject,  on  coming  into  the  pulpit,  was  this,  "  Behold 
how  good  and  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together 
in  unity  I"  and,  on  taking  leave  of  it,  "  Finally,  brethren, 
farewell.  Be  of  one  mind  ;  live  in  peace,  and  the  God  of 
love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you."  I  mention  this  inci- 
dent with  the  greater  pleasure,  by  reason  of  the  recent  and 
very  friendly  offer  of  hospitality  which  has  been  extended 
to  ourselves  from  the  descendants  of  those  whom  our 
fathers  so  cordially  entertained.  How  beautiful  are  even 
the  smallest  acts  of  brotherly  kindness,  in  the  midst  of  the 
party  divisions  and  sectarian  prejudices  which  occupy  so 
large  a  space  in  the  religious  history  of  our  age  !  Our 
early  records  have  no  fairer  page  than  that  which  is 
adorned  with  this  wreath  of  love.  And  never,  I  believe, 
has  the  great  Head  of  the  church  looked  down  upon  this 
temple  with  a  more  approving  smile,  than  when  those  two 
venerable  ministers  sat  side  by  side  in  its  pulpit,  and  their 
congi'egations  were  intermingled  in  its  pews.* 

*  See  Appendix  M. 
25 


194  HISTORY     OF 

I  have  now  brought  down  the  history  of  the  New  Brick 
Church  to  the  period  when  it  was  incorporated  with  the 
Second,  as  recorded  in  the  first  part  of  this  book.  The  bell 
of  the  Old  North  Church,  which  was  larger  than  that  of 
the  New  Brick,  was  hung  in  its  place.  A  part  of  the  com- 
munion-service of  silver,  belonging  to  the  Second  Church, 
as  also  their  land  and  other  property,  which  had  become 
useless,  together  with  the  old  bell  of  the  New  Brick,  were 
sold  to  purchase  a  parsonage-house  for  Dr.  Lathrop.  The 
large  Bible  of  the  Old  North  was  presented  to  the  Second 
Church  in  Newton. 

The  New  Brick  continued  to  be  occupied  by  the  Second 
Church  till  1844.  On  Sunday,  March  11,  services  were 
held  in  it  for  the  last  time.  A  few  paragraphs  from  the 
farewell  sermons  then  preached,  referring  to  the  old  edifice, 
and  showing  the  feelings  with  which  it  was  regarded,  and 
the  condition  of  the  society  at  that  period,  are  here  added 
as  matters  of  historical  interest. 

The  sermons  were  from  the  text,  Psalm  xlviii.  12,  13: 
"  Walk  about  Zion,  and  go  round  about  her ;  tell  the 
towers  thereof.  Mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks,  consider  her 
palaces ;  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the  generation  following." 
The  subject  was  introduced  as  follows :  — 

We  meet  to-day  for  the  last  time  in  this  venerable 
house.  It  has  stood  a  hundred  and  twenty-three  years. 
It  is  the  oldest  temple  in  this  city.  Christ  Church,  its  an- 
cient neighbor,  is  its  junior  by  more  than  two  years,  and 
the  Old  South  by  nearly  nine.*     It  has  been  an  object  of 

*  The  corner-stone  of  Christ  Church  was  laid  April  15,  1723.  It  was 
first  opened  for  worship  on  the  29th  of  December,  of  the  same  year.     The 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  195 

sacred  interest  to  many  generations.  Its  image  has  been 
connected  with  the  idea  of  God,  in  the  minds  of  myriads 
who  have  been  born  and  lived  and  died  within  sight  of 
its  spu-e.  Hallowed  associations  gather  thickly  around  it. 
Its  walls  are  hung  with  the  memorials  of  ancient  days. 
Shadowy  processions  of  the  sainted  dead  seem  to  move 
along  its  aisles ;  and  a  solemn  chant,  as  of  many  voices, 
known  and  unknown,  mingling  in  psalms  and  prayers,  to 
swell  beneath  its  roof. 

It  is  a  serious  thing  to  demolish  a  house  like  this.  It 
is  a  solemn  act  to  destroy  these  time-hallowed  walls.  It  is 
more,  far  more,  than  merely  to  take  down  the  material  pile, 
which  hands,  long  since  mouldered  to  dust,  assisted  to 
raise.  These  stones  and  bricks  are  inwrought  with  holy 
sentiments ;  they  are  inscribed  with  honored  names ;  they 
are  written  all  over  with  religious  reminiscences ;  they  en- 
shrine venerated  images ;  they  are  memorials  of  the  piety 
and  faith  of  our  fathers;  they  are  largely  and  intimately 
connected  with  the  spiritual  life  of  past  and  present  gene- 
rations. We  may  replace  them  with  a  more  splendid 
edifice.  We  may  tax  architectural  art  for  all  the  elements 
of  grandeur  and  beauty  it  can  furnish,  to  decorate  the 
structure  which  is  to  be  reared  upon  their  ruins.  But 
the  sentiments  and  affections  which  consecrate  this  ancient 
house,  no  human  skill  can  restore.  A  sacred,  a  spiritual 
fabric  of  hallowed  memories  and  associations  will  be  shat- 
tered together  with  these  crumbling  walls,  —  and  fall  never 
to  rise  again. 

foundation  of  the  Old  South  was  commciiccd  March  31,  1729.  lleligious 
services  were  attended  in  it  for  the  first  time  on  the  27th  of  April,  1730. 


196  HISTORY     OF 

But  every  thing  must  yield  to  the  immediate  wants 
and  will  of  the  living.  The  command  of  present  use  is  in 
our  day  incontrovertible  and  supreme.  Its  sceptre  sways 
everywhere.  The  marks  of  its  empire  are  all  around  us. 
It  takes  down  and  builds  up,  and  knows  no  veneration. 
The  sacred  and  the  beautiful  are  continually  bowing  before 
it.  It  has  often  pointed  ominously  at  this  old  edifice.  It 
has  touched  it  now,  and  to-morrow  it  falls. 

But  it  shall  not  fall  unhonored.  This  old  pile  shall  not 
be  swept  away  for  ever  from  the  sight  of  men,  without  a 
becoming  commemoration  of  its  long  and  interesting  his- 
tory. The  rude  hammer  shall  not  strike  its  first  blow 
against  its  walls,  until  our  hearts  have  paid  to  it  their 
parting  tribute  of  affection  and  respect.  We  will  not  meet 
for  the  last  time  at  this  beloved  and  venerated  altar,  with- 
out such  a  valedictory  service  as  it  deserves  from  those 
who  have  gathered  around  it  on  so  many  hallowed  occa- 
sions with  gi'atitude  and  devotion,  and  found  under  its 
shade  the  peace  of  heaven. 

The  condition  of  the  society,  and  the  peculiar  impres- 
sions of  the  occasion,  were  thus  noticed  in  the  close  of  the 
second  discourse :  — 

We  have  passed  together  through  changeful  times  ; 
through  various  periods  of  great  and  wide-spread  excite- 
ment ;  through  powerful  agitations  of  opinion ;  whilst, 
within  the  borders  of  our  own  little  community,  we  have 
been  blessed  with  uninterrupted  peace,  and  not  a  single  jar 
has  disturbed  our  sabbath-home.  All  the  concerns  of  the 
parish  have  been  managed  with  commendable  fidelity  and 
wisdom  on  the  part  of  those  who  have  been  entrusted  with 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  197 

their  charge.  The  number  of  our  proprietors  and  worship- 
pers has  increased.  Accessions  to  the  church  have  been 
of  late  greatly  multiplied.  New  manifestations  of  social 
feeling  and  of  spiritual  life  have  strengthened  our  union, 
and  refreshed  our  hearts.  And  now,  through  all  the  per- 
plexities and  differences  with  which  the  question  of  de- 
molishing this  old  house  of  worship,  and  building  a  new, 
has  been  necessarily  involved,  we  find  ourselves  sitting 
together  for  the  last  time  around  this  beloved  altar,  with 
no  sentiments,  I  hope  and  believe,  which  are  uncharitable 
towards  each  other,  or  uncongenial  with  the  spirit  of  peace 
and  love. 

I  cannot  express  the  satisfaction  and  the  gratitude  I 
feel  at  the  condition  of  this  parish  in  these  last  hours  of 
our  occupancy  of  this  old  temple.  How  sad,  how  bitterly 
reproachful,  would  be  our  reflections,  if  we  were  leaving  it 
in  discord  and  confusion  and  weakness !  How  deep  and 
stinging  would  be  our  consciousness  of  shame,  if,  after  all 
the  pious  multitudes  whose  care  has  preserved  it  to  our 
hands,  and  whose  prayers  have  consecrated  it  to  our  hearts, 
we  were  now  compelled  to  feel  that  the  years  of  our  pos- 
session of  it,  the  last  years  of  its  existence,  had  been  stained 
with  unworthy  dissensions,  and  disgraced  with  faithlessness 
and  neglect !  Thanks,  thanks  be  to  God  that  we  are  spared 
such  misery  as  that  I  Thanks  that  we  leave  it  in  no  worse 
spiritual  or  temporal  condition,  as  a  society,  than  when  it 
came  into  our  hands !  Thanks  that  its  walls  do  not  come 
down  because  we  are  a  dwindling  congregation,  without 
heart  or  ability  to  repair  the  dilapidations  of  time !  Thanks 
that  it  does  not  crumble  around  us  because  we  are  indiff'er- 


198  HISTORY     OF 

ent  or  dead! — but  rather  because  we  are  straitened  by  its 
bounds,  and  feel  the  stirrings  of  a  growing  life,  which,  in 
the  order  of  Providence,  prompts  us  to  throw  off"  its  walls 
that  a  more  spacious  and  beautiful  structure  may  rise  up 
in  their  stead. 

Yet  let  there  be  no  boastful  nor  ambitious  feeling  in 
our  hearts.  A  more  consistent  emotion  is  that  of  wonder 
at  the  long-suffering  mercy  of  our  God.  "  My  soul  shall 
make  her  boast  in  the  Lord.  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord!  not 
unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name,  give  glory"  for  thy  great 
compassion  and  forbearance  towards  us.  For  how  poor 
have  been  our  best  offerings!  how  cold  our  warmest 
prayers!  When  we  consider  how  many  hallowed  hours 
we  have  spent  in  these  courts,  what  voices  have  here 
addressed  us,  what  vows  we  have  made,  we  cannot  cer- 
tainly go  out  for  the  last  time  over  that  threshold  with  any 
other  than  a  lowly  step  and  a  contrite  heart.  May  God  in 
his  mercy  pardon  all  our  offences,  and  the  offences  of  our 
fathers,  that  have  ever  defiled  this  sacred  place ;  all  formal 
worship ;  all  unbrotherly  sentiments ;  all  comings  before 
him  with  mind  polluted,  and  heart  unsanctified;  all  worldly 
thoughts  that  have  mingled  with  our  devotions ;  all  evil 
hearts  of  unbelief;  all  grievings  of  his  Spirit;  all  liftings- 
up  of  the  soul  unto  vanity ;  all  high  looks  and  proud 
hearts ;  all  mockings  at  his  mighty  word ;  all  stubborn 
impenitence  and  resistings  of  his  grace :  for  verily  we  have 
not  always  honored  him  with  our  sacrifices,  but  have  too 
often  wearied  him  with  our  iniquities. 

But  I  should  do  injustice,  no  less  to  my  own  feelings 
than  to  those  to  whom  this  society  has  stood  most  deeply 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  199 

indebted,  if  I  were  to  finish  this  sketch  of  our  history 
without  respectful  and  honorable  allusion  to  those  excellent 
men  who,  from  generation  to  generation,  have  held  up  the 
hands  of  the  ministers  and  stood  as  the  pillars  of  this  church. 
Time  would  fail  me  to  enumerate  them  all,  —  though  every 
one  of  their  names  is  worthy  of  being  registered  in  our 
remembrance.  At  the  head  of  these  stands  Deacon  John 
Tudor,  —  a  man  of  no  less  sincere  piety  than  sterling 
honor ;  prudent  in  affairs,  and  systematic  in  all  his  arrange- 
ments. His  labors  for  the  good  of  the  society,  during  his 
own  day,  were  various  and  indefatigable.  Nor  was  he 
unmindful  of  the  benefit  of  those  who  should  come  aftgr 
him.  Nearly  all  the  most  valuable  records  of  the  church 
and  society,  during  the  eighteenth  century,  were  fully  and 
carefully  kept  by  himself.  If  it  were  not  for  his  careful  and 
untiring  pen,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  ministry  of  Welsteed, 
Gray,  and  Pemberton,  would  have  been  to  us  but  little 
better  than  a  blank.  He  was  also  a  pecuniary  benefactor 
of  the  society,  and  treasurer  for  about  forty-two  years.  In 
the  same  connection  should  here  be  recorded  the  lonsr  and 
valuable  services  of  Deacon  Samuel  Parkman,  whose  loss 
to  this  society  was  deeply  lamented,  and  whose  many 
claims  to  its  respect  and  gratitude  received,  at  liis  with- 
drawal, heartfelt  and  substantial  testimonials.* 

I  would  gladly  prolong  the  catalogue,  even  to  our  own 
day.  I  would  gladly  marshal  before  you  the  whole  pro- 
cession of  the  stanch  friends  and  supporters  of  this  house, 
from  its  erection  to  its  fall.  There  is  not  one  of  them 
whose  memory  I  do  not  bless.     There  is  not  ojic  who  has 

*  See  Appendix  N. 


200  HISTORY     OF 

done  it  good,  or  prayed  for  its  peace,  whom  I  do  not  thank 
and  love.  And  especially  do  I,  on  this  day,  recall  with 
renewed  affection  and  gratitude  the  images  of  every  one 
who,  since  the  beginning  of  my  own  humble  ministry,  has 
lent  his  aid  to  the  furtherance  of  God's  holy  work,  or  con- 
tributed to  the  honor  and  strength  of  this  beloved  congre- 
gation. The  dead  live  in  my  remembrance,  and  the  living 
shall  never  die  from  it.  I  feel  their  value  now.  I  feel  it 
every  day.  May  God  multiply  to  our  society  and  our 
church  the  number  of  such  wise  and  faithful  men,  —  men 
who  will  stand  by  the  altar,  and  lend  their  shoulders  to  the 
ark,  —  men  who  will  love  the  very  gates  and  walls  of  our 
Zion,  for  the  sake  of  God  and  Christ,  to  whom  our  temples 
are  consecrated,  and  for  the  precious  interests  of  man's 
immortal  nature  and  social  well-being,  of  which  they  are 
the  watch-towers,  the  nurseries,  and  the  garrisons,  from  age 
to  age. 

And  now,  my  friends,  before  this  ancient  landmark  is 
removed  out  of  its  place,  let  us  contemplate  the  lessons 
which  it  is  calculated  to  impress  upon  the  thoughtful  mind. 
What  changes  have  taken  place  around  it  since  it  first 
occupied  this  spot!  what  revolutions  in  this  countiy  and 
in  the  world !  what  mutations  of  opinion,  of  government, 
and  of  social  life  I  what  transformations  on  the  face  of  the 
earth!  what  convulsions  of  empires!  But  the  institutions 
and  ordinances  of  the  gospel  still  abide  unshaken,  —  often 
attacked,  but  ever  unharmed ;  in  one  period  apparently 
sinking  into  neglect ;  at  another,  renewing  their  hold  upon 
the  reverence  and  affections  of  men ;  always  striking  their 
roots   deeper  into   the   heart  of  humanity,  and  spreading 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  201 

them  wider  beneath  the  foundations  of  society,  from  the 
agitations  which  heave,  and  the  convulsions  that  overthrow 
the  things  that  can  be  shaken;  and  always  rising  serene 
and  majestic  from  the  mists  which  obscure,  and  the  floods 
which  threaten  to  overwhelm  them.  Confidence,  calm, 
entire  confidence  in  their  perpetuity,  is  a  lesson  which  I  read, 
as  if  it  were  inscribed  in  characters  of  light  upon  this 
hoary  pile. 

Even  within  our  own  day,  we  have  seen  the  popular 
tendency  apparently  setting  strongly  away  from  the  insti- 
tutions which  our  fathers  loved.  But  we  are  also  seeing 
the  tide  of  opinion  in  our  churches  flowing  back  again 
with  a  fuller  swell.  It  is  a  cause  of  heartfelt  satisfaction, 
that  no  page  in  the  records  of  this  church  affords  such 
numerous  evidences  of  devoted  attachment  to  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  gospel  as  the  very  last,  and  that  similar 
indications  are  manifested  in  nearly  all  our  churches.  I 
believe  it  admits  of  demonstration,  that  at  no  period  since 
the  foundation  of  this  house  was  laid,  has  the  sabbath  been 
more  generally  and  properly  honored,  houses  of  worship 
more  largely  frequented,  the  Lord's  Supper  more  fully 
attended,  and  the  interests  of  true  religion  in  a  more  pro- 
mising condition  in  New  England,  than  at  the  present 
hour.  And  why,  but  in  part  for  the  attacks  which  the 
institutions  of  Christianity  have  in  recent  times  sustained  ? 
Why,  but  because  the  very  progress  of  intellectual  light, 
whilst  it  has  dispersed  much  of  the  superstition  with  which 
they  have  been  surrounded,  has  displayed  more  clearly  to 
the  illuminated  mind  their  intrinsic  advantages  and  claims  ? 
Why,  but  for  the  very  reasons  which,  a  few  years  ago, 
26 


202  HISTORY     OF 

awakened  our  apprehensions,  —  the  onset  of  Rationalism, 
and  the  mistaken  opposition  of  partial  reformers  ?  We 
have  made  trial  of  what  Philosophy  and  Rationalism  can 
do  for  our  spiritual  edification ;  and  we  have  seen  and  felt 
the  end  of  their  perfection.  We  have  proved  the  word  and 
the  power  of  those  who  would  have  persuaded  us  that  the 
world  has  outgrown  the  holy  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and 
would  have  given  us  in  their  stead  a  religion  altogether 
spiritual  and  imaginary,^ — disconnected  from  the  pillars 
and  the  corner-stone  of  the  visible  church,  which  God, 
through  his  Son,  has  set  up  for  the  landmarks  and  bul- 
warks, and  centre  of  union  of  the  faithful,  to  the  end  of 
time.  But  the  voices  of  these  charmers,  charm  they  ever 
so  wisely,  though  they  have  beguiled  many  for  a  season, 
have  not  had  the  authoritative  and  divine  tone  of  Him  who 
spake  as  never  man  spake,  nor  can  speak.  The  porter  of 
the  heart  openeth  not  the  door  of  its  inner  sanctuary,  save 
to  the  ti-ue  Shepherd.  His  sheep  hear  his  voice,  and  follow 
him ;  but  a  stranger  will  they  not  follow,  for  they  know 
not  the  voice  of  strangers.  And  though  for  a  time  they 
may  wander  away  from  the  fold  of  safety,  after  one  calling 
sweetly  from  the  tops  of  some  cloud-covered  mountain,  or 
another  piping  musically  in  the  enchanted  fields  of  unre- 
straint ;  yet,  having  wandered  up  and  down,  and  near  and 
far,  seeking  rest  and  finding  none,  —  by  and  by,  they  will 
hear  the  voice  of  their  forsaken  Saviour,  floating  through 
the  shades  of  night  that  are  gathering  thickly  around  them, 
as  he  calls  his  wanderers  home,  with  that  well-known  cry 
of  resistless  tenderness,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are 
weary  and  heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest;"    and 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  203 

their  tired  feet  will  turn  back  to  the  pale  of  peace,  to  go 
astray  no  more.  And  so  it  will  be  through  the  ages  that 
are  to  come.  Ever  hath  the  seeking  sparrow  found  a 
house,  and  ever  will  the  wandering  swallow  find  a  nest 
for  herself,  where  she  may  lay  her  young,  even  thine  altars, 
O  Lord  of  Hosts,  my  King  and  my  God ! 

Another  lesson  is  imprinted  upon  my  soul  with  the 
image  of  this  venerable  structure,  a  lesson  of  hope  for  the 
generations  that  are  to  C07ne,  —  glad  hope  for  the  unfolding 
destiny  of  mankind.  For  what  progress  has  society  made 
since  the  corner-stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid  I  That "  more 
light,"  of  which  the  sainted  Robinson  prophesied,  as  he 
turned  his  calm  and  pure  eye  towards  the  glorious  visions 
of  the  spiritual  morning  which  God  showed  him  to  be 
about  to  break  across  the  dark  waters  of  the  "Western 
Ocean,  has  already  broken  upon  these  latter  days.  If  one 
of  those  ancient  men  of  God  who  watched  the  rising  of 
these  walls  were  to  come  back  and  mingle  with  ourselves 
who  are  about  to  take  them  down,  what  astonishment 
would  strike  him  dumb!  what  gratitude,  too  strong  for 
utterance,  would  swell  in  his  heart !  The  battle  of  political 
and  religious  freedom,  which  he  anticipated  would  by  and 
by  come  on,  and  to  which  he  looked  forward  with  such 
anxious  expectations,  has  already  hopefully  commenced. 
The  seeds  of  reforms  which  he  planted  have  sprung  up. 
The  prayers  which  he  breathed  for  the  generations  to  come, 
the  things  which  he  waited  for,  but  never  found,  are  has- 
tening to  their  fulfilment  in  our  day,  and  beginning  to  be 
revealed  to  our  babes.  And  we  and  our  children,  if  we 
are  but  faithful  to  the  mighty  trust  of  the  most  glorious 


204  HISTORY     OF 

present  which  the  world  has  yet  seen,  may  turn  our  faces 
forward  with  a  still  more  hopeful  gaze,  and  expect  that, 
ere  the  new  temple  which  we  are  about  to  rear  shall 
crumble  with  age,  or  be  exchanged  for  a  more  spacious 
and  beautiful  house,  its  turrets  shall  be  gilded  by  a  yet 
more  glorious  light,  and  its  worshippers  rejoice  in  a 
yet  more  perfect  manifestation  of  the  kingdom  of  Hea- 
ven on  earth. 

And  now,  my  friends,  the  time  has  come  for  us  to 
take  our  last  farewell  of  this  beloved  house.  It  is  hard 
to  realize  that  we  shall  never  meet  in  it  again ;  that  the 
delightful  and  hallowed  hours  we  have  spent  under  its  roof 
are  ended,  and  shall  never  be  renewed.  It  is  painful  to 
think,  that,  when  another  sabbath  dawns  upon  the  earth, 
our  eyes  shall  seek  in  vain  for  its  glittering  spire,  and  our 
steps  turn  slowly  and  sadly  to  some  other  temple.  But  we 
have  not  parted  from  it  without  long  consideration.  We 
do  not  leave  it  without  a  pious  regret. 

Farewell,  then,  a  long,  a  fond,  an  eternal  farewell  to 
its  sacred  walls !  Farewell,  house  of  our  fathers,  and  of 
our  fathers'  God !  Lovely  and  dear  and  venerable  has 
been  thy  hoary  image  to  our  eyes,  nor  shall  it  ever  be 
effaced  from  our  memories.  Thy  sacred  uses  are  ended. 
Thy  work  of  piety  is  done.  The  last  echoes  of  owe  prayers 
are  lingering  amidst  thy  arches.  The  last  incense  of  our 
worship  is  ascending  around  thy  altar.  Sink,  then,  to  the 
dust !  Fade  for  ever  from  our  sight !  Fall,  crumble,  and 
pass  away!  The  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  remaineth. 
The  spiritual  house  that  we  have  builded  to  God  in  our 
hearts  abides  unshaken.     The  sentiments  that  have  conse- 


THE     NEW     BRICK     CHURCH.  205 

crated  thy  courts  shall   flourish  when  the  earth   and  the 
heavens  are  no  more. 

And  yet,  thanks  be  to  God,  not  all  that  belongs  to 
this  house  is  destined  to  pass  away.  The  sacred  vessels 
that  have  contained  the  emblems  of  our  Saviour's  love, 
and  that  have  so  often  been  spread  before  us  here,  will 
go  with  us,  and  attend  us,  and  welcome  us  again,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  before  another  altar,  and  under  the  shadows 
of  other  walls.  By  this  beautiful  bond  of  union,  our  two 
sabbath-homes  will  be  connected  together,  —  the  home  of 
our  remembrance  be  linked  to  the  home  of  our  hope.  Let 
this,  then,  my  beloved  flock,  be  emblematical  of  the  strength 
of  our  fellowship,  and  the  spirit  of  our  union  and  inter- 
course, till,  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  we  meet  at  length 
with  new  songs  of  gratitude,  and  new  purposes  of  piety, 
to  consecrate  the  house  that  we  are  about  to  build  to  the 
God  of  Holiness  and  of  Love. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


A.  —  Page  7. 

COVENANT. 

We,  whose  names  are  here  subscribed,  being  called  of  God  to  enter  into 
church-fellowship  together,  knowing  and  considering  oui*  great  unworthi- 
ness  and  unfitness  for  so  near  approaches  to  so  holy  a  God,  and  how  apt 
we  are  to  start  aside  from  him  and  from  the  rules  of  his  gospel  and  gov- 
ernment over  us, —  we  therefore  lament,  as  in  his  sight,  the  inconstancy 
of  our  own  spirits  with  him,  and  our  former  neglects  of  him  and  pollu- 
tions of  his  house  and  holy  things,  by  our  persoijal  corruptions  and  unholy 
walkings,  and  do  beseech  him,  for  his  name's  sake,  to  prevent  us  with 
mercy  and  accept  us  under  the  wings  of  his  own  everlasting  covenant ; 
and  in  dependence  upon  his  free  grace  therein,  in  his  name  and  strength, 
we  here  freely  this  day,  in  the  presence  of  the  ever-living  God,  do  avouch 
the  Lord  to  be  our  God,  and  ourselves  to  be  his  people,  and  do  yield  our- 
selves to  him,  by  an  holy  covenant  of  faith  and  love  and  loyalty,  to  cleave 
to  him  and  to  one  another  in  liim ;  to  cleave  to  God  in  Christ  as  our 
sovereign  Good,  and  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Chiist  as  the  only  [Mediator  and 
surety  of  the  covenant,  as  our  only  liigh-priest  and  atonement  to  satisfy 
for  us  and  to  save  us,  and  as  our  only  prophet  to  guide  and  to  teach  us, 
and  as  our  only  king  and  lawgiver  to  reign  over  us ;  as  also  to  attend 
upon  him  and  the  service  of  his  holy  will,  by  walking  together  as  a  con- 
gregation and  church  of  Christ,  in  all  the  ways  of  his  worship,  and  of 
mutual  love,  and  of  special  watchfulness  one  over  another,  according  to 
his  will,  which  is  revealed  to  us  by  his  word  ;  subjecting  ourselves  to  the 
Lord  in  all  his  holy  administrations  in  his  church,  beseeching  him  to  own 
us  for  his  people,  and  to  delight  to  dwell  among  us  as  his  people,  that  his 
kingdom  and  grace  may  be  advanced  by  us. 

Which  sacred  covenant  that  we  may  observe  and  all  the  branches  of 
it  inviolable  for  ever,  we  desire  to  deny  ourselves,  and  to  depend  alone 

27 


210  APPENDIX. 

upon  the  power  of  his  Spirit,  and  upon  the  merits  and  mercies  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  for  assistance  and  for  acceptance,  for  healing  and  forgiving 
mercy  for  his  OAvn  sake. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  set  to  our  hands.     [Signed  by  the  seven 
brethren  named  in  page  7.] 


B.  — Page  9. 

(From  Mass.  Historical  Society's  Collectiuns  ) 
TO    THE    UOXOURED   GOVERNOUR   AKD    MAGISTRATES. 

Michael  Powell,  your  humble  servant,  desires  you  of  your  clemency  to 
read  these  few  lines. 

When  tlie  providence  of  the  Almighty  settled  me  in  Boston,  I  intended 
to  join  with  that  church  ;  but,  finding  that  myself  and  wife  did  give  oflFence 
in  crowding  into  their  seats  that  Averc  former  inhabitants,  I  endeavoured 
by  the  elders  to  be  directed  where  we  might  sit  without  offence  ;  but  they 
not  finding  any  spare  room,  and  the  new  meeting-house  being  built,  and 
myself  being  invited  to  join  with  others  to  gather  a  church,  which  was 
done  by  the  advice  and  approbation  of  the  Rev.  Jlr.  Cotton  and  'Mr.  Wil- 
son; we  all  not  doubting  but  Mr,  Samuel  Mather  would  have  joined  in 
of&ce  with  us,  as  he  pretended  ;  but,  he  failing  us,  we  were  not  wanting  to 
seek  for  supply  elsewhere,  as  your  worships  know.  ^Mean while,  finding  that 
it  was  burthensome  to  the  elders  constantly  to  supply  the  place,  and  oft 
the  place  was  not  supphed,  myself  (unworthy)  being  called  of  the  breth- 
ren, thought  I  was  called  of  God  to  improve  my  one  talent,  —  with  this 
promise  to  the  church,  that  I  would  supply  the  place  but  when  or  till  we 
could  not  [be]  better  supplied  otherwise,  wluch  we  still  endeavoured. 
Now,  honoured  in  the  Lord,  I,  finding  assistance  and  acceptation  far  be- 
yond deserts  or  expectation,  went  on ;  my  chief  encouragement  being 
some  fruit  that  some  professed  they  reaped  by  my  poor  labors.  Now  the 
brethren,  being  out  of  other  hopes,  motioned  calling  me  to  office  ;  a  strange 
motion  to  me.  So  they  gave  me  a  call.  I  desired  time  to  consider  of  it, 
meanwhile  seeking  for  guidance  from  the  Lord.  I  did  think  there  was  a 
fino'er  of  God  in  it,  which  I  durst  not  deny,  though  weak  and  unworthy, 
yet  knowing  who  had  all  power.  I  accepted  of  the  call,  I  say,  with  much 
fear  and  trembling,  upon  these  terms,  that  if  the  magistrates  and  elders 
did  approve  and  consent  thereunto.  Now,  finding  that  the  then  lionoured 
General  Court  did  advise  us  to  forbear,  we  were  satisfied  and  fully  re- 
solved to  follow  that  advice.  I  not  forward  to  take  such  a  charge  upon 
me,  hence  the  injunction  of  the  County  Court  was  sad  unto  me.  Now, 
honoured  in  the  Lord,  I  hearing  that  some  reports  are  come  to  yoiur  ears, 
that  we  intend  to  proceed,  notwithstanding  court  or  county  ;  it  is  no 
small  sadness  to  my  spirit  that  it  should  be  so  thought  or  spoken.    Such 


APPENDIX.  211 

a  thing  never  yet  entered  into  my  thoughts,  nor  words  into  my  ears ;  if 
any  such  words  have  dropt  from  any,  'tis  more  than  I  know.  God  forbid 
I  should  be  cause  of  any  disturbance  in  the  country.  I  have  not  so 
learned  Christ.  By  help  from  God,  I  will  study  peace  and  follow  it.  I 
had  rather  be  followed  to  my  grave  than  unto  that  which  crosses  the 
rule  of  Christ,  or  disturbs  the  peace  of  the  churches. 

Honoured  fathers  of  this  commonwealth,  my  humble  request  is  that 
you  would  not  have  such  hard  thoughts  of  me,  that  I  would  consent  to  be 
ordained  to  office  without  your  concurrence ;  nor  that  our  poor  church 
would  attempt  such  a  thing  without  your  approbation ;  but  that  under 
you  we  may  still  (as  we  have)  live  a  quiet  life  in  godliness  and  honesty. 
Thus  desiring  your  favourable  aspect,  humbly  desiring  pardon  of  my  Itold- 
ness,  desiring  the  Lord  to  guide  you  and  prosper  all  your  pious  endeavours 
for  the  peace  of  this  commonweal  and  for  our  poor  orphan  church,  I  shall 
ever  be  at  your  worships'  command  in  the  Lord. 

Michael  Powell. 
Received  6  September,  1653. 


C.  —  Page  47. 

It  was  my  purpose  to  have  taken  up  in  this  Appendix  all  the 
charges  that  have  been  brought  againt  Increase  Mather,  to  have 
examined  minutely  the  grounds  on  which  they  rest,  and  to 
have  answered  them  one  by  one.  The  materials  with  which 
I  have  furnished  myself  are,  as  I  think,  abundantly  sufficient  for 
his  defence  and  justification.  My  book,  however,  is  swelling  to 
such  a  size  that  I  am  compelled  to  be  contented  with  what  has 
been  said  in  the  body  of  the  work  in  vindication  of  his  character. 
No  notice  has  been  taken  of  the  accusation  against  Increase 
Mather,  that  he  was  instrumental  in  creating  or  fostering  "  the 
witchcraft  madness,"  fot  the  simple  reason  that  it  is  entirely 
groundless.  The  evidence  is  abundant  and  perfectly  clear  to  the 
fact  of  his  having  not  only  been  guiltless  of  producing,  but  influ- 
ential in  allaying  it,  and  in  opening  the  eyes  of  his  contemporaries 
to  the  mischief  and  dangers  that  attended  it. 


I  omitted  to  mention  that  he  died  August  23,  1723.  His 
disorder  was  that  painful  malady  which  formerly  afflicted  so  many 
students  and  aged  clergymen,  —  the  stone. 


212  APPENDIX. 

D.  — Page  81. 

WILL  OF  REV.  INCREASE  MATHER,  7  (4),  1718. 

I  Increase  Mather  of  Boston  in  New  England,  being  not  only  sensible 
that  I  am  (as  all  men  are)  a  poor  mortal ;  but  having  moreover,  in  respect 
of  some  ])odily  Infirmities,  (especially  that  Ephialtes  which  I  have  often  bin 
afflicted  with)  Reason  to  think  that  my  Breath  will  suddenly  be  stopped  ; 
so  that  it  is  possible  &  probable  that,  when  dying,  I  shall  not  have 
Liberty  to  express  my  Mind.  And  considering  that  God,  of  his  alnindant 
Mercy,  has  given  me  to  accomplish  those  Things,  which  when  sick  near 
unto  Death  many  Years  ago  I  desired  Life  and  Health  that  I  might  finish  ; 
I  would  be  in  a  Readiness,  that,  when  Christ  shall  call  for  me,  I  may 
have  nothing  else  to  do,  but  to  dy  and  go  to  Hni.  And  withal  remem- 
bring,  that  it  is  according  to  the  Will  of  God,  that  a  Man  before  his  Death 
set  liis  House  in  Order ;  I  do  make  &  appoint  this  to  be  my  last  WiU  & 
Testament  in  Manner  following  ; 

Concerning  my  Soul,  I  have  long  since  (even  from  my  Youth  for  more 
than  threescore  Years  ago)  given  it  to  God  in  Jesus  Christ  ;  trusting  that 
He,  who  has  the  Keys  of  Hell  &  Death,  will  command  His  holy  Angels  to 
conduct  me  into  his  Blessed  Presence,  when  once  Death  has  separated 
between  my  mortal  Body  &  my  immortal  Spirit.  I  am  the  Chief  of  Sin- 
ners, and  have  nothing  in  the  World  to  depend  upon  but  only  the  Righ- 
teousness of  Jesus  Christ  ;  and  the  Remembrance  of  that  Righteousness 
does  make  me  to  triumph  not  only  over  Death  and  DcatIs,  but  over  all 
my  Sins.  When  my  Soul  is  out  of  my  Body,  let  my  dear  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  do  what  He  will  with  it;  for  into  his  Hands  do  I  commit  my 
Spirit.  If  He  will  send  that  Soul,  which  He  has  redeemed  with  His  own 
Blood,  and  which  He  has  made  above  all  Things  desirous  to  glorify  his 
Name,  If  He  -nill  send  that  Soul  down  into  Eternal  Darkness,  I  am  then 
content  to  perish ;  but  that  can  never  be . 

Concerning  my  Body,  I  commit  it  to  the  Earth,  there  to  Sleep  in  Hope, 
until  the  Resurrection  of  the  Just. 

As  to  the  outward  Estate  which  the  Lord  of  His  Goodness  has  be- 
stowed upon  me,  It  is  my  ]\Iind  &  Will  (and  I  trust  the  Will  of  God  also) 
that  it  be  disposed  of  as  follows. 

I  would  in  the  first  Place  give  Order  for  the  Payment  of  my  Debts,  if  I 
had  any ;  but  I  bless  the  Lord  I  owe  no  man  any  Thing  but  Love.  I  give 
five  Pounds  to  the  Poor  in  that  Church  to  which  I  am  related. 

Concerning  my  Wife  that  now  is,  there  was  an  Agreement  before 
Marriage,  and  Writings  signed  accordmgly,  that  I  should  not  be  concerned 
with  any  Part  of  her  Estate,  nor  She  with  mine.     If  She  shall  (as  hitherto 


APPENDIX. 


213 


She  has  not)  bring  any  Thing  to  me,  I  would  have  it  returned  to  her  again 
with  double  the  Value. 

Concerning  my  Son  Cotton  Mather,  He  has  bin  a  great  Comfort  to  me 
from  his  Childhood,  having  bin  a  very  dutiful  Son,  and  a  singular  Blessing 
to  his  Father's  Family  and  Flock.  If  I  had  any  considerable  Estate,  I 
ought  to  bequeath  the  greatest  Part  of  it  to  Him.  It  has  bin  thot,  that 
I  have  Bags  by  me,  which  is  a  great  INIistake  :  I  have  not  Twenty  Pounds 
in  Silver  or  in  Bills.  But  whatever  I  have  (be  it  more  or  less)  whether  in 
Silver  or  Bills,  I  give  it  to  Him  my  Eldest  Son.  Item,  I  give  to  Him  my 
Pendulum  AVatch,  Item  my  Pendulum  Clock,  Item  my  Silver  Tankard  : 
And  I  bequeath  to  Him  all  my  Manuscripts,  and  the  one  half  of  my  Libra- 
ry, desiring  that  my  Books  or  Manuscripts  may  not  be  sold  or  embezled. 

Concerning  my  Son  Samuel  Mather,  I  have  expended  more  in  his  Edu- 
cation, than  on  any  one  of  my  Children.  I  gave  Him  a  considerable 
Number  of  Books  at  his  going  for  England.  And  a  Considerable  Part  of 
liis  Uncle  Nathanael's  Library  has  fallen  to  liis  Share.  He  liveth  where 
He  may  furnish  himself  with  Variety  of  Books  ;  and  is  blest  with  an  Es- 
tate able  to  do  it.  Nevertheless,  considering  that  He  has  bin  a  dutiful 
Son,  and  an  Honor  to  his  Father's  Name,  I  bequeath  to  Him  a  fourth  Part 
of  my  Library,  in  Testimony  of  my  paternal  Affection. 

The  remaining  fourth  Part  I  bequeath  to  my  Fatherless  Grandson 
Mather  Byles,  in  Case  He  shall  be  educated  for,  and  employed  in,  the 
Work  of  the  INIinistry ;  (which  I  much  desire  &  pray  for)  leaving  it  with 
my  Executor  to  order  &  determine  what  particular  Books  shall  be  his ; 
only  I  give  Him  (in  Case  aforesaid)  particularly  Poll  Synopsis  Criticorum 
in  five  Volumes  in  Folio,  and  his  English  Annotations,  with  the  Continua- 
tion, in  Two  Folios. 

I  give  to  my  Grandson  Samuel  Mather  Piscatoris  Commentaria  in  Bib- 
lia  in  three  Folios. 

I  give  to  my  Grandson  Thomas  Walter  the  English  Annotations  in  Two 
Folios,  also  the  Dutch  Annotations  in  two  Folios. 

The  Remainder  of  my  Estate  in  Housing  or  Moveables,  I  give  to  be 
equally  divided  among  my  Beloved  Daughters  Maria,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  & 
Abigail.  What  I  give  to  my  Daughter  Elizabeth,  I  desire  it  may  (if  his 
Mother  can)  be  improv'd  towards  the  Education  of  her  only  Son,  (my 
Grandson  Mather  Byles)  in  Learning,  because  he  is  a  Cliild  whom  God 
has  blessed  vrith  a  strong  Memory,  ready  Capacity  &  Aptness  to  learn.  I 
leave  it  as  my  dying  Piequest  to  his  Uncle  my  Son  Cotton  Mather  to  take 
Care  of  the  Education  of  that  Cliild  as  of  his  own.  If  He  shall  obtain 
Subscriptions  for  his  Education  for  the  Ministry  (as  He  knows  I  have  done 
for  more  Fatherless  Children  than  one)  I  am  persuaded  his  own  Children 
will  not  fare  the  worse  for  his  being  a  Father  to  a  Fatherless  Cliild.  To 
prevent  his  being  chargeable  as  much  as  I  can,  I  give  Him  my  wearing 
Apparel ;  excepting  my  Chamblet  Cloak,  which  I  give  to  my  Executor. 


214  APPENDIX. 

If  the  Lord  shall  take  away  Mather  Byles  by  Death  before  He  is  of  full 
Age,  or  if  He  shall  not  bo  employed  in  the  Work  of  the  Ministry,  it  is  my 
Mind  and  Will  that  then  the  Books  bequeathed  to  Him  shall  be  given  to 
such  other  of  my  Grandchildren  as  shall  be  Preachers  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  according  as  my  Executor  shall  dispose. 

I  dy  beleeving  that  God  will  bless  my  Children  after  I  am  taken  from 
them ;  and  my  Persuasion  is  grounded  on  these  as  well  as  other  Scrip- 
tures. Gen.  XXV.  ii.  &  xviii.  21.  Psalm  xxxvii.  25.  Prov.  xx.  7.  Unto 
God  in  Jesus  Christ  I  commit  myself  &  all  mine  forever. 

Finally  I  constitute  and  appoint  my  Beloved  Son  Cotton  Mather  to  be 
the  Sole  Executor  of  this  my  Will ;  entreating  my  Worthy  Friends  Mr 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Mr  Adam  Winthrop,  !Mr  Edward  Hutchinson,  Mr 
John  Ruck  &  Mr  John  Frizell  to  be  assistants  as  Overseers ;  praying 
them  that,  for  my  Sake,  but  especially  for  the  sake  of  the  Glory  which  I 
hope  may  come  to  God  thereby,  they  virill  be  Kind  to  my  Fatherless 
Grandson  Mather  Byles. 

This  I  declare  to  be  my  last  Will  &  Testament :  And  I  have  accord- 
ingly vrritten  this  with  my  own  Hand,  and  hereunto  aflSsed  my  Seal,  The 
Seventh  Day  of  the  fourth  Month,  called  June,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord 
One  Thousand,  Seven  hundred  and  Eighteen. 

Witnesses  that  I  declared  this 

to  be  my  Will :  Increase  Mather,     [seal.] 

(Signed,  and  sealed  with  wax.) 

Jonas  Clarke.  I  do  hereby  signify  to  my  Executor,  That 

Edward  Wilder.  it  is  my  Mind  &  Will  that  my  Negro  Servant 

Joseph  Woodwell.  called  Spaniard  Shall  not  be  sold  after  my 

Decease  ;  but  I  do  then  give  Him  his  Liber- 
ty :  Let  him  then  be  esteemed  a  Free  Ne- 
gro. 

Jun.  4,  1719. 

Since  the  above  was  furnished  by  Dr.  ShurtlefF,  as  mentioned 
in  the  note  referring  to  this  Appendix,  a  copy  of  the  will  has  been 
taken  by  another  hand,  and  published  in  the  "  Genealogical  Re- 
gister" for  October,  1851. 


I  introduce  here  a  table  of  the  Mather  and  Cotton  Lineage, 
prepared  by  J.  W.  Thornton,  Esq. ;  and  also  the  Rev.  Increase 
Mather's  Family  Record,  from  his  Family  Bible,  now  in  possession 
of  one  of  his  descendants,  Miss  Elizabeth  Anna  Byles,  of  Burling- 
ton, N.J. :  — 


216  APPENDIX. 


CRESCENTIUS  MATHER. 

I  was  marryed  y^  6  day  of  y^  let  month  being  y«  fifth  day  of  y*  week 
1661-. 

My  son  Cotton  was  bom  at  Boston  N.  E.  y^  12  day  of  y*  12  month  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  past  10  before  noon  being  y^  fifth  day  of  y*  week  1G6|^. 
He  was  baptised  at  y®  old  church  in  Boston  by  Mr.  Wilson  15  day  of 
y*  same  month  166|^. 

My  daughter  Maria  was  born  at  Boston  i|-  of  March  about  midnight 
166|-  ^~'.    baptised  by  me  19  of  the  same  month. 

My  daughter  Elizabeth  was  born  January  6  about  four  O'Clock  P.M. 
Lords  day  1666.  Baptised  by  Mr.  Wilson  at  the  old  church  in  Boston 
Feb.  3.  166t,  marryed  to  Mr.  Greenough  July  1696.  Marryed  to  Mr. 
Josias  Byles  Oct.  6.  1703,  died  Aug.  |-|  1745.  Her  only  child  Mather 
was  born  March  15,  1707. 

My  son  Nathaniel  was  bom  at  Boston,  N.  Eng.  July  6  a  little  before  2 
O'clock  in  y^  morning  being  Tuesday  1669.  Baptised  by  me  11th  of  the 
same  month  1669.  died  Oct.  17.  1688.     I  was  then  in  England. 

These  four  children  were  all  born  in  our  house,  viz.  that  which  was 
my  father  Cotton's,  wherein  I  dwelt  8  years  and  wherein  y""  mother 
was  born. 

My  daughter  Sarah  was  bom  in  November  9  th  about  midnight  Wed- 
nesday 1671,  baptised  by  me  the  12  day  of  the  same  month  1671. 

ISIy  son  Samuel  was  born  Aug.  28.  Friday  about  3  quarters  of  an  hour 
after  four  in  y'^  morning,  baptised  by  me  y''  30  day  of  y'^  same  month 
1674. 

These  two  were  born  in  y^  house  which  was  bought  of  Mr.  Arthur 
Chickley. 

My  daughter  Abigail  was  born  13th  of  April,  Friday  |^  of  an  hour  after 
3  P.M.  1677,  baptised  by  me  y^  20  day  of  y^  same  month  Friday  at  Dea- 
con Phihps  house  where  was  a  prayer  meeting  that  day  1677.  (bom  in 
y«  house  which  was  Captain  Bredons. 

My  daughter  Hannah  was  bom  May  30  Lords  day  morning  between 

1  &  2.  1680.  Baptised  by  me  July  16  Friday,  in  my  own  house,  the 
reason  why  she  was  baptised  no  sooner  &  not  in  y'^  publick  meeting  house 
was  because  of  my  long  sickness  and  weakness,  August  1680.     Died  Dec' 

2  about  4.  A.M.  1706. 

My  daughter  Catherine  was  born  Sept'.  14  Tuesday  3  P.  M.  1682. 
Baptised  by  me  Sept'.  17,  1682.     Died  June  11.  1683  about  11  A.M. 

My  daughter  Jerusha  was  bom  April  1|  t^I^f  ^^^  ^^  ^^^  P^^*  "^ 
P.M.  1684.    Baptised  by  me  AprU  20. 1684.    Died  Dec'.  20  about  12  A.M. 


APPENDIX.  217 

1710.  Her  daughter  Jerusha  Oliver  was  born  Saturday  17  day  of  Decem- 
ber &  baptized  by  me  31  of  the  same  month,  the  day  after  her  pious 
mother  died.  The  child  cUed  Jan^  4.  5  O'clock  P.M.  These  tlu-ee 
children  were  born  in  the  house  which  was  built  for  me. 

I  am  indebted  for  the  above  to  the  politeness  of  S.  G.  Drake, 
Esq. 

E.  —  Page  114. 

Cotton  Mather  was  a  most  voluminous  writer.  His  printed 
works  amounted  to  three  hundred  and  eighty-two.  Many  of 
these  are  occasional  sermons  and  pamphlets  on  subjects  of  public 
interest.  Among  the  most  important,  besides  those  of  which  I 
have  spoken,  are  his  "  Christian  Philosopher,"  a  work  on  Natural 
Theology,  and  the  "  Magnalia  Christi  Americana,  or  the  Ecclesi- 
astical History  of  New  England,"  first  published  in  London,  in 
1702,  in  a  large  folio  volume.  The  last-named  book  has  been 
difierently  estimated  by  persons  of  different  tastes.  Some  have 
admired  and  highly  praised  it ;  others  ridiculed  its  style,  andpom- 
plained  of  its  inaccuracies.  Grahame  calls  it  the  most  interesting 
work  which  the  literature  of  this  country  has  produced,  and  con- 
siders some  of  its  biographical  sketches  equal  or  superior  to  Plu- 
tarch. Quite  as  strong  expressions  of  commendation  might  be 
quoted  from  eminent  men  of  the  past  century ;  although  some  of 
the  author's  contemporaries,  whose  prejudices  he  offended,  were 
bitter  in  their  invectives.  Cotton  Mather  himself  says  he  does 
not  wonder  that  there  were  some  who  disliked  and  abused  the 
"  Magnalia,"  because  it  was  written  to  serve  the  interests  of  real, 
solid,  vital  piety,  rather  than  a  formal  religion  ;  and  because, 
showing  the  virtues  of  the  Nonconformists,  it  of  course  set  in  a 
strong  light  the  persecuting  spirit  from  which  they  suffered. 

Cotton  Mather  has  satirically  noticed  one  class  of  those  who 
attacked  the  "  Magnalia,"  in  a  reply  to  the  strictures  of  "  one 
John  Oldmixon,  in  a  book  entituled,  'The  English  Empire  in 
America.'  "  There  is  a  good  deal  of  point  in  such  remarks  as  the 
following :  — 

28 


218  APPENDIX. 

"  The  accuser  wovild  have  it  believed,  that  the  Church  History  is  very 
triAdal  in  the  matter  of  it.  Yes,  by  all  means  !  The  marvellous  works  of 
God  in  producing  and  maintaining  and  aflflicting  and  relieving  of  colonies 
in  a  matchless  manner,  formed  upon  the  noble  intentions  of  pure  and  unde- 
filed  religion ;  the  wise  measures  taken  by  the  best  of  men  to  establish 
that  religion,  and  the  bright  patterns  of  living  up  to  it,  seen  in  the  lives  of 
such  men ;  and  as  choice  materials  as  a  Church  History  can  be  composed 
of,  —  these  are  trivial  matters!  Come,  then,  let  us  go  to  Master  Old- 
mixon  for  important  matters.  It  is  a  trouble  unto  me  to  descend  unto 
any  thing  so  ludicrous ;  but  it  is  he,  and  not  I,  that  must  answer  for  it. 
In  his  history,  wherein  he  rails  at  ours,  you  shall  find  whole  pages  conse- 
crated unto  long,  long,  tiresom  relations  of  some  that  he  singles  out  as 
the  more  curious  events :  he  calls  'em  so.  These  curious  events  are, 
'  that  a  couple  of  starved  Indians  (at  Hudson's  Bay)  went  a-fishing,  — 
and  then  a-hunting,  —  and  met  with  only  two  moose,  —  and  how  'twas, 
—  and  how,  the  geese  flying  away  to  the  southward  in  October,  the  people 
there  [such  their  segacity !]  knew  that  hard  weather  was  approaching ;  — 
and  in  November  [oh,  marvellous  !]  it  snowed.  And  then,  —  a  long,  tedious 
narrative,  how  they  catched  partridges,  [not  woodcocks !]  yea  [an  exploit 
that  should  be  told  unto  future  generations],  four  men,  in  a  week's  time 
killed  six  and  twenty.  And  then  [a  terrible  thing  happened,  as  much  to 
be  remembred  as  the  Sicilian  earthquakes]  in  December,  a  boy  had  his 
feet  hurt  with  the  frost.'  And  an  hundred  more  such  curious  events  is 
this  history  set  off  withal.  These,  it  seems,  are  the  important  matters, 
that  are  most  worthy  of  a  room  in  history.  A  Church  History,  furnished  as 
aforesaid,  has  only  trivial  matters  for  you !  " 

That  Cotton  Mather  knew  more  of  the  history  of  this  country 
than  any  man  of  his  age,  is  the  testimony  of  all  competent  judges. 
He  has  thrown  into  the  "  Magnalia"  a  large  mass  of  materials  for 
a  history,  many  of  which  are  valuable  and  interesting  to  the  gene- 
ral reader,  and  indispensable  to  any  future  historian  of  New  Eng- 
land. That  there  are  inaccuracies  and  partial  statements  in  the 
book  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise.  It  is  very  difficult  to  find  any 
writer  concerning  the  men  and  movements  of  his  own  age  who 
is  wholly  free  from  prejudice,  or  any  voluminous  history  that  is 
entirely  accurate.  This  is  no  place,  however,  for  a  criticism  of 
the  book ;  instead  of  which,  I  will  let  Cotton  Mather  speak  for 
himself.  If  his  views  and  practice  with  regard  to  style  are  not 
agreeable  to  any  reader,  perhaps  his  remarks  on  the  subject  may 
tend  to  put  his  critics  in  good  humor. 


APPENDIX.  219 


"  There  has  been  a  deal  of  a  do  about  a  style  ;  so  much  that  I  must 
offer  you  my  sentiments  upon  it.  There  is  a  way  of  writing  wherein  the 
author  endeavours  that  the  reader  may  have  something  to  the  purpose  in 
every  paragraph.  There  is  not  only  a  vigour  sensible  in  every  sentence,  but 
the  paragraph  is  embellished  with  profitable  references,  even  to  something 
beyond  what  is  directly  spoken.  Formal  and  painful  quotations  are  not 
studied  ;  yet  all  that  could  be  learnt  from  them  is  insinuated.  The  writer 
pretends  not  unto  reading,  yet  he  could  not  have  writ  as  he  does  if  he  had 
not  read  very  much  in  his  time  ;  and  his  composures  are  not  only  a  cloth 
of  gold,  but  also  stuck  vsdth  as  many  jewels  as  the  gown  of  a  Russian  em- 
bassador. This  way  of  writing  has  been  decried  by  many,  and  is  at  this 
day  more  than  ever  so,  for  the  same  reason  that,  in  the  old  story,  the 
grapes  were  decried,  —  that  they  were  not  ripe.  A  lazy,  ignorant,  con- 
ceited sett  of  authors  would  perswade  the  whole  trilje  to  lay  aside  that 
way  of  wi-iting,  for  the  same  reason  that  one  would  have  per s waded  liis 
brethren  to  part  with  the  encumbrance  of  their  bushy  tails.  But,  how- 
ever fashion  and  humour  may  prevail,  they  must  not  think  that  the  club 
at  their  coffee-house  is  all  the  world ;  but  there  wiU  always  be  those  who 
will  in  this  case  l^e  governed  by  indisputable  reason,  and  who  will  think 
that  the  real  excellency  of  a  book  will  never  ly  in  saying  of  little,  that  the 
less  one  has  for  his  money  in  a  book  'tis  really  the  more  valuable  for  it, 
and  that  the  less  one  is  instructed  in  a  book,  and  the  more  of  superfluous 
margin  and  superficial  harangue,  and  the  less  of  substantial  matter,  one 
has  in  it,  the  more  'tis  to  be  accounted  of;  and  if  a  more  massy  way  of 
writing  be  never  so  much  disgusted  at  this  day,  a  better  gust  wiU  come 
on,  as  will  some  other  things,  qucejam  cecidere.  In  the  mean  time,  nothing 
appears  to  me  more  impertinent  and  ridiculous  than  the  modern  way  [I 
cannot  say  rule,  for  they  have  none  !]  of  criticising.  The  blades  that  set 
up  for  criticks,  —  I  know  not  who  eons-tituted  or  commissioned  'em!  — 
they  appear  to  me,  for  the  most  part,  as  contemptible  as  they  are  a  super- 
cilious generation  ;  for,  indeed,  no  two  of  them  have  the  same  style  ;  and 
they  are  as  intoUerably  cross-grained  and  severe  in  their  censures  upon  one 
another  as  they  are  upon  the  rest  of  mankind.  But  whUe  each  of  them, 
conceitedly  enough,  sets  up  for  the  standard  of  perfection,  we  are  entirely 
at  a  loss  wliich  fire  to  follow.  Nor  can  you  easily  find  any  one  thing 
wherein  they  agree  for  their  style,  except  perhaps  a  perpetual  care  to 
give  us  jejune  and  empty  pages,  without  such  touches  of  erudition  (to 
speak  in  the  style  of  an  ingenious  traveller)  as  may  make  the  discourses  less 
tedious,  and  more  enriching  to  the  mind  of  him  that  peruses  them.  There 
is  much  talk  of  a  florid  style  obtaining  among  the  pens  that  are  most  in 
vogue  ;  but  hoAV  often  would  it  puzzle  one,  even  with  the  best  glasses,  to 
find  the  flowres !  And  if  they  were  to  be  chastized  for  it,  it  would  be  with 
much-what  as  much  of  justice  as  Jerom  was  for  being  a  Ciceronian.  After 
all,  every  man  will  have  his  own  style,  which  will  distinguish  him  as  much 


220  APPENDIX. 

as  his  gate  ;  and  if  you  can  attain  to  that  -which  I  have  newly  described, 
but  always  Ayi'iting  so  as  to  give  an  easy  conveyance  unto  your  ideas,  I 
would  not  have  you  by  any  scourging  be  driven  out  of  your  gate,  but  if 
you  must  confess  a  fault  in  it,  make  a  confession  like  that  of  the  lad  unto 
his  father,  while  he  was  beating  him  for  his  versifying. 

"However,  since  every  man  will  have  his  o-\vn  style,  I  would  pray 
that  we  may  learn  to  treat  one  another  with  mutual  ci\"ilities  and  conde- 
scensions, and  handsomely  indulge  one  another  in  this,  as  gentlemen  do  in 
other  matters. 

"I  wonder  what  ails  people,  that  they  can't  let  Cicero  write  in  the 
style  of  Cicero,  and  Seneca  write  in  the  (much  other!)  style  of  Seneca; 
and  own  that  both  may  please  in  their  several  ways." 

In  another  place,  speaking  of  his  own  writings,  he  uses  this 
language : — 

"  I  am  no  pretender  to  what  some  have  been  commended  for,  —  the  art 
of  good  narrative.  I  acknowledge  that  I  am  too  Uable  to  an  infirmity  of 
salting  my  sentences,  now  and  then,  with  short,  instructive,  and  unforced 
intermixtures  of  something  or  other  that  I  have  read  of.  But,  as  I  was 
u^Don  reforming  it,  I  stumbled  upon  a  passage  in  a  letter  of  Mons.  Tourne- 
fort  unto  the  Lord  Pontchartrain :  '  You  gave  me  leave  to  insert  some 
touches  of  erudition  to  heighten  the  subject  treated  of;  and  I  fancy  such 
additions  will  make  them  the  less  tiresome.'     This  a  little  emboldened 


Again,  he  says,  in  relation  to  one  of  his  works :  — 

' '  I  can  truly  say  I  have  studiously  laid  aside  that  care  of  embellishing. 
I  have  drop^t  a  world  of  what  some  would  count  ornaments,  which,  while  1 
was  writing,  offered  themselves  to  my  mind." 


E.  —  Page  130. 

Form  of  Union  between  the  Church  of  Christ,  late  under  the  pastoral 
CARE  OF  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  and  the  Second  Church  of  Christ 
IN  Boston,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  John  Lathrop. 

First,  the  Moderator  of  the  New  Brick  Church,  late  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  addresses  himself  as  follows  to  the 
members  of  the  church  :  — 

"  Brethren,  —  It  having  pleased  Almighty  God  to  remove  from  us,  by 
death,  our  late  evangelical  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  under  whose 
mirdstry  some  of  us  have  sat  with  pleasure  for  many  years,  and  the  great 


APPENDIX.  221 

Head  of  the  Church  having  so  ordered  events  in  the  kingdom  of  provi- 
dence, that  we  have  enjoyed  the  ministerial  labors  of  the  Rev.  John 
Lathrop,  who  has  statedly  ministered  to  us,  and  to  the  church  under  his 
particular  care,  which  has  assembled  vrith  us  since  the  evacuation  of  the 
town  by  the  British  forces  in  March,  1776 ;  — finding  ourselves  reduced  to 
a  small  number,  it  has  been  thought  that  it  might  tend  to  the  glory  of  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  to  our  own  edification,  for  us  to  unite  and  in- 
corporate vnth  the  Second  Church  of  Christ,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Rev.  John  Lathrop,  with  whose  ministerial  labors  we  have  expressed 
our  full  satisfaction ;  that  from  henceforth  we  be  one  church  or  corporate 
body,  equally  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges,  all  the  stock, 
whether  in  plate,  money,  books,  houses,  lands,  and  hereditaments,  which 
have  hitherto  been  the  separate  property  of  each  church. 

"  As  tliis  important  affair  has  been  for  some  time  under  consideration, 
and  every  member  of  the  church  has  had  time  to  tliink  and  determine,  if 
you  please,  I  will  put  the  question.  If  it  be  your  minds,  then,  my  breth- 
ren, that  the  Church  of  Christ,  late  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pem- 
berton,  should  unite  and  incorporate  with  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in 
Boston,  please  to  signify  it  by  the  usual  sign  of  holding  up  the  hand." 

The  Moderator  will  then  address  himself  to  the  brethren  of  the  con- 
gregation usually  known  by  the  name  of  the  New  Brick  :  — 

"Brethren,  —  As  the  Church  of  Christ,  late  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  have  now  voted  to  vmite  and  incorporate  with 
the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  this  town,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Lathrop,  it  is  proper  that  the  congregation  who  usually  attended 
on  the  ministry  of  the  late  Dr.  Pemberton  should  signify  their  concur- 
rence with  what  the  church  has  done.  If  it  be  your  minds,  then,  brethren, 
to  concur  with  the  church  in  their  act  of  union  and  incorporation  with 
the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  this  town,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  John  Lathrop,  please  to  signify  it." 

The  Moderator  of  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  this  town  Avill  ad- 
dress himself  to  that  church  in  the  following  manner  :  — 

"  Bretlu-en  of  the  Second  Church  in  this  town,  —  You  have  now  at- 
tended to  the  vote  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  late  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  for  uniting  and  incorporating  with  us.  It  is 
now  for  us  to  declare  our  concvu-rence  with  what  is  expressed  in  the  vote 
of  imion  just  now  passed  by  this  our  sister  church.  If  you  please,  I  will 
put  the  question.  If  it  be  your  minds,  then,  my  brethren,  that  the  Church 
of  Christ,  late  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton,  should 
be  united  with  us,  so  that  from  this  time  we  be  one  church  or  corporate 
body,  known  by  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  Boston ;  and  that  all  those 
rights  and  privileges,  all  the  stock  in  plate,  money,  books,  houses,  lands, 
and  hereditaments,  which  have  hitherto  been  the  separate  property  of 
each  church,  shall  from  this  time  become  one  common  stock,  to  which  all 


222  APPENDIX. 

the  members  of  this  united  church  shall  be  equally  entitled ;  and  from 
this  time  we  consider  the  members  of  the  church  late  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemljertou,  and  the  members  of  our  own  church,  as  one  body, 
equally  bound  to  watch  over  one  another  in  love,  and  promote  the  edifica- 
tion and  happiness  of  the  whole,  —  if  tliis  be  your  minds,  please  to  signify 
it." 

The  Moderator  will  then  address  himself  to  the  brethren  of  the  con- 
gregation usually  known  by  the  name  of  the  Old  North  :  — 

"Brethren,  —  You  have  attended  to  the  imion  which  has  now  taken 
place.  The  church  late  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pem- 
berton,  and  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  this  town,  are  no  more  twain, 
but  one  body  in  the  Lord.  You  have  also  attended  to  the  vote  of  the 
Xew  Brick  congregation,  declaring  then*  concurrence  with  the  church  in 
the  act  of  union  wliich  has  been  passed.  Nothing  now  remains  but  your 
concurrence  with  the  whole.  If  it  be  your  minds,  then,  that,  inasmuch  as 
a  union  has  been  complicated  between  the  churches,  the  congregations 
should  be  united  likewise,  please  to  manifest  it. 

Conclusion.  "  Brethren,  —  As  we  are  now  one  church  and  one  con- 
gregation, God  grant  we  may  be  one  in  Christ ;  equally  interested  in  the 
merits  of  his  obedience  and  death.  God  grant  we  may  be  edified  more 
and  more  in  love,  and  that  by  liis  grace  we  may  aU  prepared  to  join  with 
the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born  on  high,  to  ascribe  bless- 
ing and  honor  and  glory  and  jjower  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne, 
and  to  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen  and  Amen." 

Boston,  June  30,  1779. 

The  above  was  drawn  up  by  Deacon  Tudor. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  my  letter  of  resignation  referred  to 
in  the  concluding  part  of  the  history  of  the  Second  Church. 

TO   THE   PROPRIETORS   OF   THE   SECOND   CHURCH. 

My  Friends,  —  After  long  and  prayerful  deliberation,  attended  vrith 
no  little  suffering,  I  have  become  convinced  that  it  is  my  duty  to  make  to 
you  the  communication  which  I  now  send.  Some  of  you  may  have  antici- 
pated it ;  to  a  few  it  may  be  unexpected  ;  but  to  all  I  trust  it  vnR  approve 
itself  as  being  neither  unreasonable,  unfriendly,  nor  unjust.  I  ask  for  it 
attentive  and  calm  consideration,  and  kind  construction. 

From  the  hour  when  a  small  majority  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Second 
Church  voted  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship  on  the  spot  occupied  by  the 
old,  dissensions  and  embarrassments  have  afflicted  our  society,  which,  be- 


APPENDIX.  223 

fore  that  period,  had  been  proverbially  harmonious  and  prosperous.  You 
are  aware,  that  my  own  advice  was  against  the  course  taken  by  the  majo- 
rity, as  well  as  against  building  a  costly  church.  In  evidence  of  my  views 
on  these  subjects,  I  refer  you  to  a  letter  addressed  by  me  to  the  society, 
when  the  question  of  rebuilding  was  first  agitated.  You  will  find  the  letter 
on  file  amongst  the  papers  in  the  keeping  of  your  clerk.  Permit  me,  how- 
ever, to  quote  from  it  a  few  sentences.     [These  may  be  found  on  p.  148.] 

Such  were  my  opinions  and  feelings ;  such  the  counsels  which  I  pre- 
sumed to  offer.  I  had  no  right  to  expect  for  them  so  much  influence  as 
to  overbalance  the  wishes  of  the  majority  of  the  proprietors.  But  I  think 
experience  has  clearly  proved  that  they  were  wise  and  seasonaljle ;  and 
that,  if  they  had  been  regarded,  both  the  parish  and  its  minister  would  have 
been  saved  from  much  trouble. 

When,  however,  the  vote  had  been  passed  by  the  society  to  l^ild  upon 
the  old  spot,  it  became  my  duty  not  only  to  acquiesce,  but  to  use  my  best 
exertions  to  produce  a  general  feeling  of  interest  and  good-will  throughout 
the  congi-egation.  You  Avill  bear  me  witness  that  I  was  not  faithless  in 
these  respects,  but  that  whatever  influence  I  could  command  was  in  favor 
of  union  and  peace,  and  in  furtherance  of  the  plans  of  the  majority  of  the 
proprietors. 

For  a  short  time  after  the  completion  of  your  new  edifice,  there  were 
signs  of  a  renewal  of  our  prosperity.  Former  proprietors  repurchased,  old 
worshippers  returned,  new  members  were  added  to  the  society,  and  all 
things  went  on  weU.  But,  when  the  magnitude  of  your  debt  was  fully 
realized,  it  not  only  added  a  neio  cause  of  discontent  and  discord  to  those 
which  were  beginning  to  subside,  but  revived  and  strengthened  all  the 
rest. 

Various  plans  have  been  tried  by  you  to  lessen  your  debt ;  but  they 
have  failed.  I  have  myself  three  times  preached  to  the  society  on  the 
subject,  once  addressed  you  at  a  proprietors'  meeting,  and  once  gone 
about  soliciting  individual  contributions,  —  obtaining  nearly  enough  to 
secure  the  safety  of  your  building ;  but  no  positive  or  permanent  benefit 
has  resulted  from  my  efibrts.  If  the  last  of  them  had  been  seconded  with 
a  little  more  spirit,  it  would  have  succeeded,  and  your  troubles  would  have 
been  by  tliis  time  at  an  end.  I  must  be  penuitted  to  express  my  profound 
grief  and  surprise,  that,  when  the  work  of  saving  the  church  was  so  nearly 
accomplished,  it  should  have  been  suffered  to  faU  through. 

At  length,  in  consequence  of  an  act  of  the  Standing  Committee,  nearly 
one  hundred  proprietors  gave  up  their  pews.  Some  of  them  continue  to 
worship  with  us;  but  many  have  withdrawn,  —  disappointed,  weary,  de- 
sponding, or  perhaps  ofiended,  —  till  but  a  small  remnant  is  left  of  the 
congregation  once  familiar  and  dear  to  me.  The  departure  of  friend  after 
friend  from  your  pews  has  caused  me  pang  after  pang,  till  my  heart  has 
become  sore  from  the  rupture  of  so  many  cherished  pastoral  ties.     Nor  is 


224  APPENDIX. 

the  pain  of  separation  lightened  to  me  by  the  tokens  I  have  uniformly 
received  of  the  unchanged  attachment  of  those  who  have  left. 

Such  is  the  present  condition  of  the  society,  and  such,  in  brief,  the  his- 
tory of  the  circumstances  which  have  produced  it.  And,  now,  what  is  the 
prospect  before  us  1  Let  it  be  looked  at  clearly  and  soberly.  Your  debt 
of  forty  thousand  dollars  remains  unpaid.  No  provision  is  made,  none  now 
proposed,  for  jjaying  it.  The  pews  cannot  be  sold,  —  no  man  would  be  so 
imprudent  as  to  buy,  none  so  unwise  as  to  expect  to  sell.  The  interest  on 
the  debt,  together  with  the  current  expenses  of  the  society,  can  only  be 
raised  by  very  high  taxes,  and  the  rent  of  a  large  numlier  of  pews.  I  be- 
lieve it  is  well  ascertained,  that  the  amount  you  will  thus  procure  during 
the  present  year  will  fall  so  far  short  of  the  requisite  sum  as  considerably 
to  augment  your  debt.  Your  pecuniary  embaiTassment  is  becoming  greater 
every  day.  I  can  see  nothing  before  you  but  deeper  difficulty,  the  gradual 
and  steady  desertion  of  worshippers,  and  the  sacrifice  of  your  house.  Not 
one  ray  of  promise  sufficient  to  excite  the  hope  of  a  judicious  mind,  so  far 
as  I  can  see,  breaks  the  impending  gloom.  All  that  any  of  you  say  to 
encourage  me  is,  that  ^^  something  may  yet  turn  up.'"  But,  my  friends, 
the  caprice  of  chance  is  no  basis  for  the  plans  of  reasonable  and  serious 
men ;  and,  even  if  it  were  ordinaribj  safe  to  rely  upon  it,  it  would  be,  in 
the  present  instance,  too  much  to  expect  such  a  rare  revolution  of  Fortune's 
wheel  as  would  discharge  your  enormous  debt,  which,  in  spite  of  all  our 
efforts,  under  more  favorable  circumstances  than  can  again  occur,  has  not 
been  even  so  much  as  diminished. 

Meanwhile,  the  religious  condition  of  the  society  is  wholly  discouraging, 
and  its  benevolent  action  entirely  crippled.  This  is  the  consideration  that 
weighs  more  heavily  upon  my  heart  than  all  others.  If  it  were  not  for 
this  fact,  all  your  troubles  might  be  remedied.  If  there  were  but  religious 
life  in  the  society,  even  its  immense  pecuniary  burden  would  l)e  compara- 
tively light.  But  I  have  long  mourned  that  it  is  dying  out.  I  have  long 
felt  that  circumstances  must  render  my  preaching  abortive.  I  have  noth- 
ing to  hope  for  in  occupying  your  pulpit,  except  to  defer  a  little  longer  the 
sale  of  the  house.  Hard  and  sad  experience  has  taught  me,  that  I  cannot 
look  for  much  spiritual  edification  against  the  pressure  of  our  temporal  dis- 
tress. I  have  nothing  to  cheer  me,  —  every  thing  to  dishearten.  I  can 
enjoy  no  satisfactory  Christian  communion  with  you,  whilst  secular  difficul- 
ties take  precedence  of  all  other  subjects  of  conversation  and  interest,  and 
seem  to  swallow  up  the  hearts  of  my  people.  I  fear  for  my  own  spiritual 
life.  Soul  and  body  are  beginning  to  suffer  from  long  anxiety,  discourage- 
ment, and  suspense. 

Influenced  by  such  considerations,  I  am  constrained  to  ask  to  be  released 
from  my  ol)ligations  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Second  Church,  and  do  here- 
with tender  to  you  my  resignation  of  them.  From  the  congregation  and 
the  church -^^  all  whose  members  since  my  connection  with  them  I  have 


APPENDIX.  226 


sincerely  loved  —  I  can  nevei'  he  spiritually  separated.  My  heart  is  true 
to  them  stiU,  wherever  they  or  I  may  dwell.  If  this  instrument  were  to 
dissever  the  ties  that  bind  me  to  them,  my  hand  could  not  have  written  it. 
But  many  of  them  have  already  left  your  pews  ;  and  the  remainder  might 
soon  follow,  even  if  I  were  to  retain  your  pulpit.  It  is  to  the  small  body 
of  less  than  a  score  of  proprietors  of  the  building,  that,  according  to  legal 
usage,  I  offer  my  resignation.  Individually,  they  are  included  with  those 
of  whom  I  have  just  now  spoken.  But  collectively,  in  their  capacity  of 
owners  of  the  house,  I  do  not  feel  as  if  tliey  constituted  the  society  which 
has  been,  and  ever  will  be,  dear  to  me.  The  house  has  scattered  the  flock, 
—  the  house  is  breaking  up  the  church.  It  is  from  the  house  I  desire  to 
be  separated,  before  it  shall  consummate  the  destruction  of  a  venerable 
and  once  lovely  and  most  beloved  Christian  association. 

In  conclusion,  I  must  express  the  feeling  of  deep  reluctance  under 
which  I  have  prepared,  and  now  send,  this  communication.  No  one  of 
you  can  understand  how  deep  and  tender  has  been  my  affection  for  the 
Second  Church,  nor  how  painful  is  the  conviction,  that,  without  the  occur- 
rence of  any  thing  to  disturb  that  affection,  and  without  the  forfeiture  of 
the  love  of  any  of  the  members  of  the  congregation,  a  mere  pecuniary  diffi- 
culty should  compel  me  to  resign  my  pastoral  office.  Throughout  all  the 
troubles  of  the  society,  I  rejoice  to  feel  that  I  have  experienced  from  every 
parishioner  unvarying  kindness  and  respect ;  and  I  am  pleased  to  say  that  I 
have  received  from  the  proprietors  the  prompt  and  full  payment  of  my 
salary.  No  minister  can  have  found  a  flock  more  friendly  and  considerate 
towards  liimself. 

And  now  I  cannot  close  without  saying,  that  I  had  formed,  and  have 
ftilfiUed,  the  purpose  to  remain  with  you,  and  to  share  your  burden,  so  long 
as  there  might  be  any  prospect  of  sustaining  the  society  by  saving  your 
house.  As  far  as  I  can  see  or  can  learn  from  your  treasurer,  the  case  is  as 
hopeless  as  I  have  described  it  to  be.  If,  however,  any  thing  can  yet  be 
done  towards  liquidating  your  debt,  no  consideration  shall  avail  to  induce 
me  to  separate  myself  fi-om  you  at  the  present  time.  On  the  contrary,  no 
one  would  be  willing  to  sacrifice  more  than  I  should  be  to  hold  the  house 
of  worship  in  your  possession,  and  thereby  to  keep  alive  the  church  and 
congregation. 

Faithfully,  your  friend  and  servant, 

Chandi^er  Robhins. 
Boston,  June  21,  1.S48. 


Several  matters  of  historical  interest,  not  particularly  referred 
to  in  the  History  of  the  vSocond  Church,  are  here  introduced.      For 
the  following  copy  of  names  and  its  tabular  arrangement,  I  am 
indebted  to  the  skill  and  kindness  of  Mr.  Thos.  B.  Wyman,  jun. 
29 


226 


APPENDIX. 


ADMISSIONS     AND     BAPTISMS 


THE  SECOND    CHURCH. 


N.B.  —  This  table  has  been  arranged  alphabetically,  for  the  sake  of  convenience.  The  admismons 
are  placed  first  under  each  family  name ;  the  baptisms  follow,  being  divided  from  the  former  by  a  dash. 
Where  the  Chiistian  name  of  the  parent  is  not  given,  it  has  been  omitted  in  the  Church  Records. 


Abbot. 

William,  of  John, 

Jan.     1, 

1726[7 

1706      Sept.  1.5. 

Rebeckah. 

Susanna,  of     ,, 

Aug.   3 

1729. 

1727      Nov.  12. 

Elizabeth. 

Margaret,  of    ,, 

Apr.  22, 

1733. 

1727      Dec.  24. 

Moses. 

Ammi,  of  John  and 

Mary, 

Aug.  16, 

1730. 

Hull,  of  Rebeckah, 

June  21,  1702. 

Benjamin,  of  „     „ 

Jan.   12, 

1734[5 

Moses,  of 

April  2,  1704. 

Isaac,  of  Mary, 

Feb.  18, 

1732[3 

Elizabeth,  of  Moses 

Mar.  16,  1707. 

Joseph,  of  „ 

Feb.  10, 

1733[4 

Richard,  of 

Feb.  20,  1708[9 

George,  of  „ 

Aug.  28, 

1737. 

Moses,  of  Rebecka, 

Aug.  5,  1711. 

Elizabeth,    „ 

Oct.  28, 

1739. 

Rebeckah,  of 

Sept.    6,  1713. 

Rebeckah,  ofTemp'cc, 

Aug.  24, 

1718. 

Richard,  of 

May  29,  1715. 

John,  of  Dorcas, 

Jan.     9, 

1736[7 

Ebenezer,  of 

July    7,  1717. 

John,  of       „ 

Nov.  12, 

1738. 

Dorcas,  of    ,, 

Nov.    2, 

1740. 

Adams. 

Jonathan,  of 

Jan.     3, 

1696f7 

16.5  8  [9  Jan.   16. 

Nathaniel. 

Priscilla,  of 

May     2, 

1703.' 

1677      Mar.    9. 

S. 

Mary,  of 

July  11, 

1708. 

1693      Sept.  24. 

Rebeckah. 

John,  of 

Oct.   15, 

1710. 

1698      Dec.  11. 

Priscilla. 

Sarah,  of 

Sept.  14, 

1712. 

1714      May    9. 

Mary. 

Mary,  of 

Sept.  21, 

1712. 

1714      Aug.    1. 

John. 

Thomas,  of 

Sept.  20, 

1713. 

1724      May     3. 

John. 

Silence,  of 

Jan.  30, 

1714[5 

1782     June  16. 

Mary. 

A    T   i-1/\/^T- 

Joseph,  of  Martha, 

Nov.  17,  1695. 

1676      Apr.  30. 

Samuel. 

Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Jacob,  of         „ 

Oct.  17,  1697. 
Sept.    3,  1699. 

Elizabeth,  of  M., 

Feb.    8, 

1712[3 

John,  of  Elizabeth, 

Apr.  11,  1697. 

Rebeckah,  of  „ 

Feb.     8. 

1712[3 

Joseph,  of      „ 

Sept.  24,  1699. 

John,  of           „ 

Feb.    8, 

17r2[3 

Nathaniel,     ,, 

Mar.    8,  1702. 

Patience,  of    ,, 

Feb.    8, 

1712[3 

Joseph,  of     „ 

Dec.  10,  1704. 

Mary,  of  Milom, 

Jan.     2, 

1714[5 

David,  of       „ 

May  30,  1708. 

Abigail,  of  T., 

Apr.  17,  1698. 

Alexa> 

DER. 

(of  Charlestown.) 

Edward,  of 

June  22, 

1712. 

Nathaniel,  of  Lois, 

Nov.    9,  1701. 

Lydia,  of  Lydia, 

Nov.    8, 

1713. 

Abigail,  of  Dinah, 

Apr.  25,  1703. 

Hannah,  of  Hannah 

,  Sept.  14,  1707. 

Allex. 

Eliza,  of            „ 

Sept.  14,  1707. 

1727[8     Jan.  14. 

Mary. 

•ToTrn    of  .TnTiT! 

Dec.     4,  1715. 
Jan.   12,  1717[8 

Mary,  of    „ 

Mary,  of  Mary, 

Oct.   31, 

1725. 

Joseph,  of ,, 

June    5,  1720. 

Martha,  of  „ 

Nov.  20, 

1726. 

Mary,  of    „ 

Aug.  19,  1722. 

"William,  of,. 

Dec.     7, 

1729. 

Sarah,  of    „ 

July  26,  1724. 

Elizabeth,    „ 

Apr.     9, 

1732. 

Benjamin,  „ 

Aug.  15,  1725. 

Ann,  of       ,, 

July  13, 

1735. 

APPENDIX. 


227 


William,  of  Mary,  June    4, 

Thomas,  of  Aug.    7, 

Ebenezer,  of  Aug.  28, 

Mary,  of  Dec.  31, 

Sarah,  of  Aug.  18, 

Alley. 

Jacob,  of  Priscilla,  June    6, 


1738. 
1720. 
1720. 
1721. 
1723. 


1708. 


Elizab 
Lydia, 

Ambrose. 
eth,  of  Eliz.,     Dec.  18,  1698 
of                    Mar.    2,  1701 

1666 
1666 

Amos. 
Apr.  29.         Hugh. 
Apr.  29.          S. 

And(er)son. 
1672      Sept.   7.  John. 

1672      Oct.  20.  Mary. 

1716      July    8.  Mary. 

Angier. 
1723      June   9.         Sarah. 


John,  of  Eliza,  Jan.   23, 

Appleton. 


1714[5 


1743 


Sarah. 


Archbald. 
1776      Nov.  10.  Anna. 

Archer. 
1711  [2     Jan.  6.  Thomas. 


1670 


Armstrong. 

S. 


Mary,  of  Margaret,  May  24, 

Matthew,  of  „  Apr.  24, 

Thomas,  of     „  July  21, 

Hannah,  of     ,,  May     5, 

Arnold. 
Thomas,  of  May  16, 

Mary,  of  Apr.  21, 

Elizabeth,  of  Mar.  18, 

Arthur. 
Joseph,  of  Aug.  21, 

Ashley. 
1691      July  to  Sept.  Mary. 

ASHWOOD,  or  ASTWOOD. 

1650      June    5.  James. 


1696. 
1698. 
1700. 
1706. 


1697. 
1700. 
1705. 


1715. 


Atkins,  or  Adkins. 
1673      Dec.    6.         B. 
1673      Dec.    6.  S. 

1677      July  29.  S. 

1791  Hannah. 


Ruth,  of 

Mar.  22, 

1702 

Thomas,  of 

June    7, 

1702 

Elizabeth,  of 

July  23, 

1704 

Richard,  of 

Oct.   20, 

1706 

Timothy,  of 

Dec.  23, 

1711 

Ruth,  of 

Sept.    8, 

1717 

John,  of 

July  17, 

1720 

Atkinson. 

William,  of  Eliza, 

Mar.  26, 

1727 

Atwood. 

1675 [6     Feb. 

20. 

John. 

1695[6     Jan. 

26. 

Mary. 

Mary,  of  John,  Sept.    6,1691. 

John,  of  J.  Feb.  18,  1693[4 

Samuel,  of  John  and 

Mary,         Mar.  29,  1696. 


Ann,  of  John, 
Elizabeth,    „ 
Abigail,       „ 
Joshua,  of  ,, 
Zachariah,  of 


Juno  20,  1697. 
Aug.  21,  1698. 
Nov.  19,  1699. 
Apr.  13,  1701. 
Dec.  27,  1719. 


Austill. 
1724      Nov.    2.         Joanna. 


Joseph,  of 


Nov.    6,  1726. 
Austin. 
1773      Oct.  Samuel. 


1703[4 
1703[4 


Avis. 
Jan.  23.        Samuel. 
Jan.  23.        Mary. 


Samuel,  of  Samuel, 
Mary,  of  ,, 

John,  of  ,, 

Samuel,  of  ,, 
William,  of  ,, 
Mary,  of  „ 

Samuel,  of  ,, 
William,  of  „ 
Isaac,  of,  „ 

Mehetabel,  of  ,, 


Apr.  18, 
Dec.  4, 
Oct.  20, 
Feb.  6, 
Mar.  25, 
May  5, 
Nov.  2, 
May  22, 
Sept.  14, 
Dec.    9, 


1697. 

1698. 

1700. 

1703[4 

1705. 

1706. 

1707. 

1709. 

1712. 

1716. 


1710 
1718 


Ayres. 
Nov.    5.  John. 

Apr.    6.         Nathaniel. 


Mary,  of  Eliza,  Oct.   12,  1707. 

John,  of  Nathaniel,   Mar.  14,  1725. 


228 


APPENDIX. 


Joseph,  of  Nathaniel,  Jan.   29,  I7'i6[7 
Margaret,  of    „  June  22,  1729. 

Nathaniel,  of  Natha- 
niel and  Eliza,  Sept.    1,  1734. 

Babbage. 
Bathsheba,  of  Eliz.,   July  22,  1694. 


Sarah,  of 
James,  of 
Joseph,  of  Eliz., 
Mary,  of       „ 
Benjamin,     „ 


Oct.  20,  1695. 
Mar.  13,  1698. 
June  11,  1699. 
June  11,  1699. 
Dec.    8,  1700. 


Bachiler. 
Susannah,  of  July  18,  1703. 

Bacon. 
1660      July    8.  Daniel. 

1660      July    8.  S. 


Mary,  of  Josiah, 
Josiah,  of    „ 
Joseph,  of   „ 
John,  of      „ 
Joseph,  of   „ 


Sept.  30,  1722. 
Mar.  1,  1724. 
Oct.  31,  1725. 
Apr.  16,  1727. 
Jan.  28,  1727[8 


Badcock. 
William,  of  Feb.  15,  1707[8 

Elizabeth,  of  Dec.  17,  1710. 

Enoch,  of  Sept.  14,  1712. 

Badger. 
Bethiah,  ofBenj.,      Jan.   12,  1734[5 
Rebeckah,  of  „  May     1,  1737. 

John,  of  „  Oct.   29,  1738. 

Mercy,  of        „  Oct.  29,  1738. 

Abigail,  of       ,,  June  14,  1741. 


1685 
1726 


Bailey,  or  Bayley. 
Dec.  27.  Samuel. 

Dec.  12.  Samuel. 


Benjamin,  of  Israel,  June  13,  1714. 
Loyd,  of  Isaac,  Oct.  28,  1716. 

Martha,  of  Israel,        Dec.  29,  1719. 
Hannah,  of     „  Nov.  16,  1718. 


Baith. 
Mary,  of  Seith,  Mar. 

Baker. 


2,  1740. 


1655 

Nov.  9,  to 
June  3,  1657. 

S. 

1665 

July    2. 

Thankful 

1678 

Apr.  14. 

Thomas. 

1700 

May  26. 

John. 

1702 

Feb.  21. 

Mary. 

Joseph,  of  Thomas,    Jan.  25,  1690[1 


Benjamin,  of  Thos., 
Nathaniel,  of 
jMarj',  of 
Thomas,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Sarah,  of 
John,  of 
Sarah,  of  John, 
Thomas,  of  ,, 
John,  of       ,, 
of      „ 
Mary,  of  John  and 

Mary, 
Elizabeth,  of  John, 
Joseph,  of  ,, 

Josiah,  of  Josiah, 
Lydia,  of       „ 
Mary,  of 


Apr.  21, 
Feb.  21, 
Feb.  22, 
Feb.  20, 
Mar.  9, 
Feb.  17, 
Mar.  30, 
Apr.  4, 
May  27, 
Feb.  16, 
Dec.  19, 


1695. 

1696[7 

1707[8 

1708[9 

1712. 

1716[7 

1718. 

1703. 

1705. 

1706[7 

1708. 


Dec.  10,  1710. 
Mar.  9,  1712. 
Aug.  23,  1713. 
Oct.  11,  1713. 
Oct.  11,  1713. 
Mar.  26,  1721. 


Ball. 
1725      Sept.  19.  Edward. 


Mary,  of  Apr.  12,  1702. 

Edward,  of  Ed.  Sept.  27,  1713. 

John,  of  Nov.    8,  1713. 

Jeremiah,  of  Edw.,  Oct.    13,1717. 

Ballantine. 
1690      July  27.         Susanna. 


Ballard. 


Rebeckah,  of 
Jane,  of  John, 
Mary,  of  Joseph, 
Martha,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 


Apr.     9,  1710. 
Jan.   13,  1711[2 
Aug.  17,  1712. 
Jan.   17,  1713[4 
Sept.  11,  1715. 


Banks. 
Zacheus,  of  Mehet.,  July  31,  1698. 


1731 


Bant. 
Dec.  12.  Gilbert. 


Gilbert,  of  Oct.   20,  1695. 

William,  of  Feb.     5,  1698[9 

Elizabeth,  of  July  13,  1701. 

Bar. 

1703      Oct.   17.  John. 


Samuel,  of  John  and 

Margt.,     Oct.     8,  1704. 
Mehetabel,  of  „       „  June    6,1708. 

Barber. 

1693      Sept.  24.  John. 


John,  of  John, 
Nathaniel,  „ 


Oct.   15,  1693. 
Oct.    15,  1693. 


APPENDIX. 


229 


Sarah,  of  John,  Oct.    15,1693. 

Samuel,  of  „  Mar.  10,  1695. 

Sarah,  of  May  16,  1703. 

Barker. 

17U      Feb.  13.  Lydia. 

1727      Nov.  19.  Abigail. 

1770      Feb.   18.  Mary. 


Barlky. 

1714      May     9. 

Israel. 

Barmard. 

1667      Oct.   20. 

Matthew. 

1705[6  Feb.  17. 

James. 

1718      Mar.  23. 

Thomas 

1718      Mar.  23. 

Silence. 

1733      June  24. 

Hannah 

1737[8  Jan.    29. 

Mercy. 

1738      Apr.  30. 

Deboral: 

1. 

1691. 

"William,  of  John 

,      Aug.  30, 

Jonathan,  of    ,, 

Jan.   15, 

1692[3 

Matthew,  of    „ 

June  17, 

1694. 

Elizabeth,  of  K., 

Sept.  17, 

1693. 

Mary,  of 

Aug.  21, 

1696. 

Richard,  of 

Mar.  26, 

1699. 

Mary,  of  L. 

Sept.  28, 

1701. 

Benjamin,  of  Kath.,  Sept.   5, 

1703. 

Elizabeth,  of  James,  Jan.    19, 

1706[7 

Esther,  of            , 

Aug.  28, 

1709. 

Mary,  of              , 

Sept.    2, 

1711. 

Hannah,  of          , 

May  24, 

1713. 

Mary,  of              , 

Jan.   30, 

1714[5 

James,  of             , 

Feb.  12, 

1715[6 

William,  of         , 

Mar.    2, 

1718. 

John, of              , 

Aug.    2, 

1719. 

Mercy,  of            , 

Mar.    5, 

1721. 

Mehetable,  of     , 

Aug.    5, 

1722. 

Thomas,  of  Thom 

as,  Feb.  15, 

1707[8 

Elizabeth,  of    „ 

Dec.  17, 

1710. 

Elizabeth,  of    ,, 

July  12, 

1713. 

John,  of            ,, 

Apr.  13, 

1718. 

John,  of             ,, 

June  10, 

1722. 

Silence,  of 

Oct.   16, 

1715. 

Mtu-y,  of 

July  31, 

1720. 

Elizabeth,  of 

Nov.  27, 

1724. 

Mar.  21, 

1725. 

Hannah,  of 

July     3, 

1726. 

John,  of  Hannah, 

Apr.  28, 

1728. 

David,  of       „ 

Apr.  16, 

1732. 

Samuel,  of  R., 

Aug.    4, 

1734. 

Ba 

RNS. 

1655      Nov.  9,  tc 

) 

June  3,  1657 
Barn 

Matthew 

SDALE. 

William,  of 

Aug.  27, 

1699. 

1727 


Bar(r)el(l). 
Sept.  17.         Hannah. 


Mary,  of  Isabella, 
Elizabeth,  of   ,, 
Abiah,  of  Abiah, 
Anna,  of 
John,  of 
Abiah,  of  Abiah, 


July  1,  1694. 
Nov.  22,  1696. 
July  19,  1702. 
Jan.  30,  1703[4 
Aug.  10,  1707. 
May  29,  1709. 


Barret. 
1702      Mar.    8.  John. 


John,  of 
John,  of  John, 
Elizabeth,  of 


May  20,  1705. 
Dec.  21,  1707. 
May  14,  1710. 


Barrington. 
Thomas,  of  Sarah,      Sept.  27,  1713. 
Susannah,  of  Aug.  20,  1721. 

Barter. 
1714[5     Jan.  23.        James. 


Elizabeth,  of  James,  Nov.  20,  1715. 
Joseph,  of  ,,       June  30,  1717. 

Eliza,  of  „       Jan.     3.  1719[0 


1729 


1695 


Barthel. 
July  27.  William. 

Barton. 

Mar.  17.  Margaret. 


James,  of  Kath.,         Oct.   18,1713. 
John,  of  Aug.  28,  1715. 

Samuel,  of  Sept.  29,  1717. 


Mary,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Zechariah,  of 
of 


Bass 


Apn  8,  1694. 
Apr.  28,  1695. 
July  12,  1696. 
Jan".    15,  1698[9 


Mary,  of 


Battersbey. 


Nov.    9,  1712. 


1678 


1728 


Beal. 

Nov.  17.         S. 

Bean(s),  or  Been. 
Nov.  17.         Deliverance. 


William,  of  Deliv'ce,  Jan.   26,  1728[9 
Ann,  of  „         Nov.     1,  1730. 

Deliverance,  of ,,         July    9,1732. 
Caleb,  of  „         Aug.    3,  1735. 

Robinson,  of    ,,        Nov.  13,  1737. 


230 


APPENDIX. 


Beard,  or  Baird. 
1701      July  27.         S.  Abiah. 


William,  of  William,  Jan.     9,  172.5[6 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,    Mar.  12,  1727. 
Mary,  of  William  and 

Eliza,  Aug.  11,  1728. 
Susannah,  of  Deborah,  Oct.  9,  1737. 
Deborah,  of      „         Aug.    5,  1739. 

Beddington,  or  Bedlington. 

Margaret,  of  Jan.   18,  1718[9 

John,  of  Jan.     8,  1720[1 

Beighton. 
1681      Mar.    1.  Samuel. 

1681      Nov.    6.  Ann. 


James,  of  Samuel,      Mar.  30,  1690. 
Ebenezer,  of  Samuel 

and  Ann,     Oct.     2,  1692. 


1714 


Belcher. 
Mar.  14.         David. 


Thomas,  of  Susan' h 

,  Dec.    9,  1722 

John,  of 

May  30,  1725 

Susanna,  of 

Apr.  23,  1727 

Mary,  of  David, 

Sept.   4,  1726 

David,  of      „ 

Aug.    4,  1728 

Samuel,  of 

July  11,  1731 

Bell. 

1727[8  Feb.  11. 

Daniel. 

1727[8  Feb.  11. 

Abigail. 

1782      Sept.    8. 

William. 

1794 

Desire. 

1794 

Prudence. 

Prior  to  1786 

Thomas. 

Daniel,  of  Daniel, 
David,  of        ,, 
Abigail,  of 
Hannah,  of 
John,  of  Daniel, 
Sarah,  of      „ 
Martha,  of 
Katherine,  of 
Thomas,  of  Daniel, 
Samuel,  of        „ 
William,  of       „ 
Elizabeth,  of     ,, 
Deborah,  of      „ 


May  6, 
June  7, 
Oct.  10, 
Mar.  3-1, 
Mar.  8, 
Aug.  20, 
Jan.  27, 
Feb.  21, 
Apr.  23, 
May  4, 
Apr.  11, 
Aug.  18, 
Jan.   30, 


1711. 
1713. 
1714. 

1717. 

1719. 

1721. 

1722[3 

1724[5 

1727. 

1729. 

1731. 

1734. 

1736[7 


1680 
1680 


Benjamin. 
Aug,  29.  S. 
Nov.    7.         John. 


1681. 


1655 

1672 
1727 


Benmore. 
Sept.  18.         Eliza. 

Bennet. 
Nov.  9,  to  June 
3,  1657.       S. 
Sept.    7.         B. 
Nov.  12.         Mary. 


1727[8  Jan.     7.         Elizabeth. 


John,  of 


May  18,  1707. 


Mary,  of  June  29,  1707. 

William,  of  Mar.  26,  1710. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,  Jan.  11,  1729[0 

John,  of  ,,  June    4,  1732. 

Ellis,  of  Sarah,  Mar.  11,  1733. 

William,  of  John,  June  18,  1738. 

Hannah,  of      „  Mar.    9,  1740. 

Benning. 

Sarah,  of  John,  Nov.  28,  1708. 

John,  of      „  Dec.    5,  1708. 


Bentley. 

1776 

William. 

Bernard. 

1664 

Aug.  21. 

S. 

1678 

Apr.  14. 

John. 

1680 

Thomas. 

1683 

July  15. 

Esther. 

1691 

May  17. 

Catharin 

1692 

Mar.  20. 

Hanna. 

1716 

May  13. 

Eliza. 

1716 

July     8. 

John. 

1718 

May  11. 

Sarah. 

Cath.,  of  Catharine,  May  24,  1691. 
Thomas,  of  John,       Aug.  19,  1716. 

Berry. 


1673      July 

3.          Thomas. 

1673      Nov. 

2.         S. 

1687[8  Feb. 

19.          Thorn. 

1701      Dec. 

14.          Mary. 

Margaret,  of  Margt.,  June  26, 

1692. 

Thomas,  of 

Mar.  24, 

1695. 

Anna,  of  Mary,           May     1, 

1698. 

Henry,  of    , 

Feb.    4, 

1699[0 

Daniel,  of    „ 

Nov.  16, 

1701. 

Ebenezer,  of 

Dec.  19, 

1703. 

Mary,  of 

Feb.  29, 
Bevis. 

1707[8 

1681[2 

S. 
Bill. 

1670 

Thomas. 

APPENDIX. 


231 


1673  Dec.    6. 

1676[7  Jan.  16. 

1676[7  Feb.  23. 

1701  Dec.  14. 

1725  Oct.  10. 


S. 

James. 

S. 

Theodosia. 

Frances  (bapt.) 


Hanna,  of  June  21,  1G91. 

Abigl.,  of  Theodosia,  Apr.  11,  1097. 


Susanna,  of 
William,  of  Wm., 
Ann,  of 
William,  of 
Susannah,  of 


Aug.  11,  1700. 
Nov.  16,  1712. 
May  24,  1713. 
Mar.  28,  1714. 
May  20,  1716. 


1670 


Billings. 

S. 


BlXGHAM. 

Prior  to  1786  Hannah. 

Bird. 
1719      Apr.    o.  Joseph. 

Bishop. 
1693      June  10.  Hanna. 

Blague. 

1678      Nov.    3.  S. 


Newcomb,  of 
Newcomb,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Mary,  of' 
Philip,  of 


Apr.  4,  1697. 
Apr.  24,  1698. 
Mar.  31,  1700. 
Mar.  22,  1702. 
Aug.  18,  1706. 


Blair. 
1708      Mar.  21.         Ann. 
William,  of  July  20,  1712. 

Blake. 
166.5      June    4.  Edward. 

1706      Mar.  24.  Solomon. 

1742  Abigail. 


Solomon,  C   twins   " 
Abigail,    ^ofSoL,  ^ 

June    1, 

1707. 

Joseph,  of  Solomon 

Aug.  14, 

1709. 

Elizabeth,  of    „ 

July  22, 

1711. 

Hannah,  of       „ 

June  21, 

1713. 

Sarah,  of           ,, 

Jan.      2, 

17l4[o 

Solomon,  of      ,, 

Sept.    2, 

1716. 

Edward,  of       „ 

Aug.  16, 

1719. 

Jonathan,  of     „ 

June    4, 

1721. 

John,  of            „ 

May    5, 

1723. 

William,  of       ,, 

Mar.  28, 

172.5. 

Hannah,  of       ,, 

Dec.    8, 

1728. 

Blanch. 

1780      Jan.     6. 

Rebecca 

Blowers. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,         Sept.    5,1736. 
Martha,  of  „  Dec.  24,  1738. 

Emma,  of  Mar.  15,  1741. 

BOARDMAN. 

1771      Mar.  31.         William. 

Bodily. 
Bell,  of  Abigail,         July  24,  1715. 

BOINTON,  or  BOYNTON. 

Samuel,  of  Isaac,       Apr.    7,  1723. 
Isaac,  of        ,,  June    6,  1725. 

Jacob,  of       „  Nov.  30,  1729. 

Bond. 
1689      Dec.    1.  Grimstone. 


Ruth,  of 


BONGARDEN. 

Aug.  31,  1712. 


Boon(e). 
1683      Apr.  15.  S. 


Elizabeth,  of  N.,        July  16,  1704. 
Nicholas,  of  Nicholas,  Feb.  10,  1705[6 

BOREL. 

1688  Martha. 

1688[9     Feb.  17.        Samuel. 


Deborah,  of  Samuel 

and  Martha,  Feb.     1,  1690[1 
Samuel,  of      „      „    Apr.  23,  1693. 
Ivatherine,  of  ,, 


Michael,  of 
John,  of  Samuel, 
Isabella,  of  „ 
Samuel,  of  ,, 
Nathanael,  of 


Sept.  14,  1695. 
Oct.  3,  1697. 
Oct.  22,  1699. 
Sept.  7,  1701. 
Apr.  23,  1704. 
Jan.     7,  1710[1 


BORMAN. 

1716      Sept.  22.         Isaac. 

BOSWORTH. 

Joseph,  of  Mary,        Dec.  16,  1716. 
Ephraim,  of  Sept.    4,  1720. 

Robert,  of  Sept.  16,  1722. 

Boucher. 
Elizabeth,  of  Feb.  28,  1724[5 

Mary,  of  July  24,  1726. 

BOULDERSON. 

William,  of  June  11,  1721. 

Sarah,  of  Jan.     G,  1722[3 


232 


APPENDIX. 


BoAVDEN. 

17 34 [5     Jan.   5.  John. 


Mary,  of  John,  Jan.     5,  1734[.5 

Bowles. 
Hannah,  of  Aug.    6,  1711. 

Bowman. 
1714[5    Jan.  23.  Margaret. 


Sarah,  of  Mary,  Feb.     6,  1714[5 

Susannah,  of,,  Feb.     6,  1714[5 

Boyd. 
Mary,  of  May  28,  1710. 

BOYDEN. 

1693      Sept.  24.  Elizabeth. 

Bkackenbury. 
1677      Nov.    4.  Samuel. 


Samuel,  of  Samuel,   May  12,  1700. 


Bream(e). 
1672      Sept.    7. 


(Brian  ?) 

S. 


Ann,  of  Elizabeth,  July  28,  1695. 

Elizabeth,  of,,  Apr.  11",  1697. 

Sarah,  of  Aug.  27,  1699. 

Benjamin,  of  Jan,   26,  1700[1 


Bkeck. 


1700 
1708 
1727 
1728 
1728 
1768 


Dec.  15. 
Apr.  18. 
Nov.  12. 
Apr.  7. 
Apr.  7. 
Nov.    6. 


John. 

Ann. 

Martha. 

John. 

Margaret. 

Daniel. 


John,  of  John, 
Samuel,  of ,, 
Edmund,    ,, 
Robert,  of 
Martha,  of  Nathl., 
Sarah,  of  ,, 

Nathanael,  of  N., 
Ann,  of  John  and 

IMary, 
Margaret,  of  John 
and  Margaret, 
John,  of      ,,  ,, 

Elizabeth,  „  „ 

Ann,  of      „  „ 

Hannah,     ,,  ,, 

Abigail,  of  John, 
Nathaniel,  of ,, 
John,  of  Robert, 


Sept. 
Mar. 
June 
July 
Mar. 
Nov. 
May 


2,  1705. 

6,  1709. 
17,  1711. 
20,  1707. 
13,  1709. 
26,  1710. 
17,  1713. 


Oct.  20,  1728. 

Aug.  23,  1730. 
Feb.  10,  1733[4 
May  1,  1737. 
Aug.  20,  1738. 
May  4,  1740. 
June  18,  1732. 
Feb.  1,  1735[6 
June  10,  1733. 


Robert,  of  Robert,  Feb.  23,  1734[5 

Ann,  of  „  Feb.  29,  1735[6 

Rebcckah,     „  Sept,  17,  1738. 

Samuel,  of    „  June  22,  1740. 

Breed. 

1723      May  12.  Sarah. 

1723      June    9.  Nathaniel. 

1727      Nov.  12.  Eunice. 

1741      Aug.    9.  Elizabeth. 


Joseph,  of  Timo.,  Oct. 

Mary,  of  Sarah,  Jan. 

Eunice,  of  Aug. 

Nathanael,  of  July 

Timothy,  of  Mar. 

Lois,  of  Sept. 

Allen,  of  Aug. 

Sarah,  of  Aug. 

Timothy,  of  Mar. 

William,  of  May 

Mary,  of  Mar. 

Allen,  of  Nathl.,  Aug. 
Sarah,  of  Nathl.  and 

Sarah,  June 

Eliza,  of    „           „  June 

John,  of  Nathl.  Aug. 

John,  of  Timothj',  Aug. 

Sarah,  of  Eunice,  Apr. 
Nathaniel,  of  Elizab.,Sept. 


1709. 

1709[0 

1712. 

1713. 

1715. 

1716. 

1717. 

1717. 

1718. 

1719. 

1723. 

1721. 

1723. 
1723. 
1726. 
1726. 
1729. 
1741. 


1669 


1704 


Breeder. 
May  16.         S. 

Brewster. 
Oct.  15.  John. 


Deliverance,  of  John, Sept,  22,  1706. 


Ann,  of 
Ann,  of 
Mary,  of 
Sarah,  of 
John, of 
Matthew,  of 
Hannah,  of 


Apr.  4,  1708. 
Mav  21,  1710. 
Mar.  9,  1712. 
Nov.  20,  1715. 
Feb.  9,  1717[8 
Jan.  14,  1721. 
Julv  31,  1720. 


Bricknal. 
1683      Nov.  25.  Edward. 

1689      Dec.  19.  S. 

Bridge. 
1715      Mar.  13.  Mary. 

1718[9  Feb.  15.  Abigail, 


William,  of  Sarah, 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
Hannah,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 
Sarah,  of 


Aug.  24,  1707. 
Mar.  18,  1711. 
June  14,  1713. 
Mar.  11,  1716. 
Mar.  23,  1718. 


APPENDIX. 


233 


Experience,  of 


July  23,  1721. 


1693 


Bridges. 
Nov.  12.  Mary. 


Bridgham. 
1725      Apr.  11.  Joseph. 

1727      Dec.  24.  Mercy. 


Joseph,  of  Joseph,      Dec.     1,  1723. 


1655 


Brooks. 
Nov.  9,  to 
June  3,  1657.  B. 
1718      May  11.  Thomas. 

1727      Dec.     3.  Sarah  (bapt.). 


Abigail,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Eliza,  of 
Sarah,  of 
John,  of 
Joseph,  of 


Nov.  22,  1724. 
Jan.  2,  1725[6 
July  30,  1727. 
Sept.  22,  1728. 
Aug.  31,  1729. 
Aug.    1,  1731. 


Sarah,  of  May     3,  1719. 

Mary,  of  Jan.   29,  1720[1 

Thomas,  of  Sept.  15,  1723. 

Elizabeth,  of  Thos.,  Feb.  26,  1726[7 

Jane,  of  „  Dec.    5,1731. 

Broughton. 

1663[4  Jan.   31.  S. 

1698      Mar.  13.  Thomas. 

1706      Aug.  11.  Hannah. 

1706      Ausr.  11.  Sarah. 


Brigenden. 
1673      July     3.  S. 

Briggs. 
1722      Apr.    8.  Deborah. 

1727      Dec.     3.  Sarah  (bapt.). 

Brightmax. 
Joseph,  ofLydia,        Aug.  26,  1739. 

Brinsden. 
1679      Sept.  14.  S. 

Brintnal. 
1701      Oct.     5.  Caleb. 

Brisco. 
1688  [9     Feb.  24.        Kebecca. 

Bristoe. 
1691      July  to  Sept.,  Daniel. 

Bronsdon,  or  Brunsdon. 
1693[4     Jan.   21.        Robert. 


1708 [9 

1710. 

1712. 

1713. 

1714[5 

1716. 

1717. 

1719. 

1720. 

1721. 

1723. 

1724. 

1725. 

1726[7 

1728. 

1729. 

1731. 


1714 
1714 
1725 
1725 


Brown-(e). 
Mar.  14.  Jonathan. 


Mar,  14. 

Mav     2. 

May  2. 
1727[8  Jan.  7. 
1727[8  Jan.  7. 
1732  Nov.  12. 
Prior  to  1786. 
Prior  to  1786. 
1772      Sept. 


Lois. 

William. 

Ann. 

Jonathan. 

Josiah. 

Ebenezer. 

Ebenezer,  jun. 

Thankful. 

Ephraim  H. 


Mercy,  of  Benjamin 

,  Feb.     6, 

Mary,  of            „ 

Aug.  13, 

Rebeckah,  of     „ 

Apr.  13, 

Robert,  of          „ 

July  12, 

Gilbert,  of         „ 

Feb.  27, 

Benjamin,  of     „ 

Mar.     4, 

Robert,  of         „ 

Aug.  11, 

William,  of       „ 

Apr.  12, 

William,  of       „ 

Mav     8, 

of 

Nov.    5, 

Robert,  of         „ 

Mar.  10, 

William,  of        „ 

July    5, 

Mary,  of            „ 

Dee.  19, 

Sarah,  of            ,, 

Feb.  26, 

William,  of        ,, 

June  16, 

Elizabeth,  of     „ 

Dec.     7, 

Rebecca,^of        ,, 

Nov.  28, 

William,  of  Ann,  Nov.    7 

John,  of  July     7 

Mary,  of  Benjamin,  Dec.  13 

Benjamin,  of  July    4 

Abigail,  of  Feb.  10 

Ann,  of  June  23 

Jonathan,  of  Lois,  Dec.  14 

Benjamin,  of  Benj.,  May  30 

Abigail,  of          „  Apr.  16 

Hannah,  of        „  June    1 

Joseph,  of           ,,  Jan.   31 

Timothy,  of  Nov.    7 

Josiah,  of  Apr.  23 

Samuel,  of  Oct.  21 

Sarah,  of  June    1 

Nathaniel,  of  Sept.  12 

John,  of  Oct.   24 

Ebenezer,  of  May     7 

Joseph,  of  Aug.  10 

Lois,  of  Dec.  30 

John,  of  Sept.  17 

Ebenezer,  of  Wm.,  Aug.    3 

Lois,  of  Jona.,  Mav     1 

Elizab.,  of  „  Sept.  11 
Elizabeth,  of  Jona. 

and  Eliza,  May  26 

Jonathan,  of  Joniujun.,  Apr.  18 

Ebenezer,  of  Jona.,  Feb.  12 

Josiah,  of          „  Mar.  30 


1697. 

1700. 

1702. 

1703. 

1705[6 

1706. 

1707. 

1708. 

1710. 

1712. 

1713[4 

1708. 

1710. 

1711. 

1712. 

1714. 

1714. 

1716. 

1718. 

1722. 

1738. 

1718. 

1720. 

1726. 

1734. 
1736. 
1737[8 
1740. 


30 


234 


ATPENDIX. 


Mary,  of  Aug.    7,  1737. 

Nathaniel,  of  Jona.,    Oct.     2,1737. 
Ebonezer,  of  Eben.,    June    7,1741. 

Bruer. 
1725      May  30.  George. 


Sarah,  of  George,        Jan.  30,  1725[6 
Abigail,  of     „             Dec.     3,  1727. 
Elizabeth,  of  Susan 

and  George,  Feb.  14,  1730[1 

Bruntox. 

Lydia,  of  Thomas,      Feb.  24,  1711  [2 


Thomas,  of 
Dorothy,  of 
Mary,  of 
Eliza,  of 


Sept.  21,  1718. 
Apr.  26,  1713. 
June  30,  1717. 
Oct.     2,  1720. 


1742 


1700 
1724 


Bryant. 

Eunice. 


Buc(h)anan. 
June  16.  John. 

Apr.    5.  Elizabeth. 


Elizabeth,  of  John, 
Mary,  of  „ 

Huldah,  of        „ 
Thomas,  of        „ 
Huldah,  of        ,, 
Clark,  of 
Ann,  of  ,, 

Sarah,  of  „ 

Elizabeth,  of 
Esther,  of  Esther, 


Dec. 
Dec. 
Feb. 
Dec. 
Mar. 
Feb. 
July 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Mar. 


9,  1694. 
9,  1694. 

12,  1698[9 
29,  1700. 

7,  1703. 
25,  1704[5 

13,  1707. 
19,  1708. 
12,  1725. 
24,  1728. 


Buckl(e)y,  or  Bulkl(e)y. 
1691  July  to  Sept.,  Joanna. 
1729  May  24.     Mary. 


Thomas,  of 

Oct.  13, 

Mary,  of  Hannah, 

July  26, 

Mary,  of  Mary, 

June    8, 

Susanna,  of,, 

June    7, 

Joseph,  of    ,, 

Jan.    16, 

Richard,  of  „ 

Oct.  21, 

Richard,  of  ,, 

Feb.     2, 

Joanna,  of    „ 

May  22, 

Abigail,  of    ,, 

July     8, 

John,  of        ,, 

Nov.  16, 

1700. 

1702. 

1729. 

1730. 

1731[2 

1733. 

1734[5 

1737. 

1739. 

1740. 


BUCKLIN. 

Hannah,  of  Hannah,  Oct.  19,1707. 

BURBANK. 

Jane,  ofReb.,  Aug.   9,1702. 

Timothy,  of  Oct.   17,  1703. 


John,  of 
Samuel,  of 


Jan.  21,  1704[5 
Oct.  20,  1706. 


Burn  AM. 
Susannah,  of  Jonat.,  Oct.  30,  1709. 


1727 
1727 


BuRNEL,  or  BURNAL. 

Apr.    2.  Samuel. 

Apr.    2.  Ann. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Ann,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Ann,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Sarah,  of  Jonathan, 
Lydia,  of 
Eliza,  of 


Mar.  30, 
Feb.  13, 
June  10, 
Julv  29, 
Aug.  30, 
Sept.  6, 
Nov.  6, 
Feb.  10, 
Oct.  20, 
July  19, 
Jan.   17, 


1707. 

1708[9 

1711. 

1711. 

1713. 

1713. 

1715. 

1716[7 

1717. 

1719. 

1719[0 


Burnett. 
Deborah,  of  Dec.  16,  1705. 

BURNLY. 

Edward,  of  Eliza,       Aug.  21,  1720. 


Burril(l). 

1710      Mar.  19. 

Mary. 

1714      Aug.    1. 

Sarah. 

John,  of  Samuel, 

Mar.  17, 

1706 

John,  of  Mary, 

Mar.  26, 

1710 

George,  of     „ 

Mar.  26, 

1710 

James,  of       „ 

Mar.  26, 

1710 

Ehzabeth,  of  „ 

Mar.  26, 

1710 

Theophil.,  of,. 

Mar.  26, 

1710 

Jonathan,  of  Jona., 

Nov.  14, 

1714 

Samuel,  of 

Sept.  25, 

1715 

Mary,  of  Mary, 

Dec.  23, 

1733 

George,  of    „ 

May  18, 

1735 

Burroughs. 

1682      Apr.    9. 

S. 

1717      May  19. 

WilUam 

Burton. 

1715      Mar.  13. 

Joanna. 

Buster. 
1703 [4     Jan.  23.       Matthew. 


1714 


Bushel(l). 
Feb.  20.  John. 


Rebeckah,  of  Rebec,  Aug.  16,  1713. 
John,  of  John,  Mar.  20,  1715. 


APPENDIX. 


235 


Rebeckah,  of  John     Feb.     9,  1717[8 
Mary,  of  „         Nov.    3,  1723. 


BUSHNEL. 

1699      May  28.  Sarah. 


Jane,  of  Sarah, 

June 

John,  of       „ 

June 

William,  of  „ 

June 

Thomas,  of  „ 

June 

John,  of 

June 

Rebeckah,  of 

Oct. 

Sarah,  of 

Feb. 

Gustan,  of 

May 

Mary,  of 

Jan. 

Gustan,  of 

Apr. 

Thomas,  of 

July 

Thomas,  of 

Sept. 

Hannah,  of 

Nov. 

4,  1699. 
4,  1699. 
4,  1699. 
4,  1699. 

17,  1711. 
12,  1712. 

6,  1714[5 

18,  1718. 
24,  1719[0 

2,  1721. 

30,  1721. 

2,  1722. 

8,  1724. 


Butler.     (See  Buster.) 
171 1[2  Feb.  24.  Sarah. 

1778      Aug.  16.  Sarah. 


Susannah,  of  Matth.,  Nov.  27, 
John,  of  „         Dec.  31, 

Joseph,  of  ,,         Jan.     3, 

Butt. 
Mary,  of  Mary,  Aug.    1, 

Byles. 
1696      Oct.   11.  Josiah. 

1725      Apr.  18.         Mather. 


1709. 
1710. 
1713[4 


1703. 


Samuel,  of  Josiah,      Oct.  11,  1696. 
James,  of  „  Oct.     8,  1699. 

Sarah,  of  „  Sept.  28,  1701. 

Samuel,  of       „  Feb.     7,  1702[3 

Mather,  of  Josias 

and  Elizab.,  Mar.  16,  1707. 

Cannon. 
1693      June  10.  Sara. 

1704      Oct.     1.  Sarah. 

17  08  [9  Feb.  13.  Andrews. 


John,  of  John,  Jan.  31,  1702[3 

John,  of  Andrew,  Aug.  22,  1703. 
Elizabeth,  of  Andros,  Oct.  29,  1710. 
Sarah,  of  Mar.  24,  1706. 

Mary,  of  Nov.  30,  1712. 

Andrews,  of  Dec.     5,  1714. 


1694 
1725 


Can(n)oway. 
Apr.    1.  Sarah. 

Mar.  28.  Sarah. 


Carlisle. 
Hannah,  of  Hannah,  July  28,  1695. 


Sarah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Rachel,  of 


1770      Oct. 
Sarah,  of 

1681[2 


July  28,  1695. 
July  28,  1G95. 
Apr.  11,  1697. 
June  14.  1702. 
Mar.  25,  1705. 


Caky. 
7.  Elizabeth. 


Feb.     9,  1723[4 


Castell. 

Joan. 


Caswell. 
1725      June  27.  Jane. 


John,  of  Jane, 
Thos.,  of      „ 
Collar,  of     „ 
Hannah,  of ,, 


Aug.  1,  1725. 

Aug.  1,  1725. 

Aug.  1,  1725. 

Aug.  1,  1725. 


Cauphin. 
Gard,  of  Christian,     Mav     2,  1697. 
Lydia,  of         „  Aug.    6,  1699. 

Daniel,  of  Ann,  Jan.   26,  1706[7 


1691  [2 


Center. 
Feb.  7.         Ruth. 


Ruth,  of  Ruth, 
Sarah,  of  ,, 
Jeremiah,  of  ,, 


Mav  15,  1692. 
Julv  20,  1695. 
June  20,  1697. 


Chadwick. 
John,  of  Mercy,  Apr.    9,1704, 

Chamberla(i)n. 
1689[0     Feb.  23.        Joanna. 
1690         Mar.    8.        Job. 
17 15 [6  John. 


Job,  of  Joanna, 
William,  of  „ 
Elizabeth,of„ 
Susannah,  of  Job, 
Mary,  of  „ 

Jane,  of 


Feb.  23,  1689  [0 
Feb.  23,  1689[0 
Feb.  23,  1689[0 
Nov.  26,  1693. 
Dec.     8,  1695. 
Mai-.  31,  17(^. 


Chambray. 
of  Margaret,  July  28,  1695. 

Champlin,  or  Champley. 
1732      Mar.    5.  Martha. 


Sarah,  of  Sarah,  Apr.     1,1694. 


William,  of  Martha,  Sept.    3,1704. 
Mary,  of  „        May  15,  1709. 


236 


APPENDIX. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Charles,  of 
Phillip,  of 
Martha,  of 
John,  of 


Feb.     1,  1707[8 
Oct.  29,  1710. 
Jan.    11,  1712[3 
July  10,  1715. 
Jan.   26,  1717[8 


Elizabeth,  of  Martha.Feb.  21,  1719[0 
John,  of  Sept.  29,  1723. 

Charles,  of  Martha,    July  11,  1725. 

Mary,  }  *^'^'^"^'  °^"     ^^^^  2^'  ^'^^'^• 

Champney. 
1776      July.  Sarah. 

Chandler. 
1693      May  or  June,  Mehetabel. 


Ann,  of 


Mar.  30,  1740. 


Channing. 
John,  of  Dec.  19,  1714. 

Mary,  of  John,  May     5,  1717. 

Ann,  of      „  Nov.    8,  1719. 

Chap(h)in. 
1690      Sept.    7.  Elizabeth. 


Elizab.,  of  Elizabeth, May  7,  1693. 

Mary,  of             „         July  1,  1694. 

Elizabeth,  of               Mar.  8,  1696. 

Ruth,  of                      June  1,  1701. 

Chard. 
1673      Julv     3.  S. 

1679      July     6.  Thomas. 

1694 [5  Feb.  17.  Hugh. 


Chaknock. 

1708      Dee.     5. 

Mary. 

1710      Nov.    5. 

John. 

1722      Nov.  25, 

Hannah. 

1726      Dec.  12. 

Elizabeth. 

1727      Dec.  10. 

Sv 

John,  of  Mary, 

Mar.  22,  1702. 

William,  of 

Apr.    2,  1704. 

Richard,  of 

Nov.    4,  1705. 

Elizabeth,  of 

Sept.  14,  1707.      j 

Mary,  of 

Mar.  12,  1710. 

Stephen,  of  John, 

Sept.    7,  1712. 

Richard,  of      ,, 

Feb.     7,  1713[4 

Stephen,  of      „ 

Apr.  17,  1715. 

Joanna,  of        ,, 

May  12,  1717. 

George,  of        ,, 

Jan.   11,  1718[9 

William,  of      „ 

Feb.  17,  1722[3 

John,  of  Emma, 

June  12,  1726, 

Thomas,  of  „ 

Nov.  12,  1727, 

Checkley. 

1670  S. 

1693       Sept.  24.  Ann. 

1747  Samuel,  jun. 

(from  New  North  Ciiurch.) 
1781      Nov.    4.  Ann. 

Prior  to  1786.  Elizabeth. 


1712 


Cheever. 
May  18.  Joshua. 


Ch(e)ute. 
Mary,  of  Aug.  30,  1713. 

James,  of  Jan.     2,  1714[5 

Mary,  of  Nov.  11,  1716. 


Rachel,  of 


Christie. 

Feb.     4,  1721[2 


1670 
1675 


Clahk(e). 

S. 


Aug.    8. 


1677      June    1. 

1677[8  Jan.   20. 
1681      Sept.  18. 


S. 
C  Jonas. 
\  Susanna. 

S. 
John. 


1691 
1694 
1702 
1702 
1711 
1721 


June  or  July.  John. 


Apr. 

Mar.    8. 

Aug.    6. 

Feb.  24. 

May  7. 
1721[2  Jan.  7. 
1727[8  Jan.  14. 
1727[8  Jan.  14. 
Prior  to  1786. 


Sarah. 

Samuel. 

Abigail. 

Sarah. 

Susanna. 

Martha. 

Sarah. 

Elizabeth. 

Jonas. 


Marj%  of  John, 
Sarah,  of    „ 
Martha,  of  John 

and  Sarah, 
Mary,  of  John, 
John,  of  ,, 
William,  of  „ 
Sarah,  of  ,, 
Martha,  of  „ 
Sarah,  of  John 

and  Sarah, 
Elizabeth,  of  ,,  ,, 
Ann,  „     ,, 

Sarah,  of  William, 
W^illiam,  of      „ 
William,  of      ,, 
John,  of  ,, 

Sarah,  of  ,, 

Rebeckah,  of  „ 
Martha,  of  ,, 
John,  of  ,, 

Elizabeth,  of    ,, 


Feb.  14,  1691[2 
Sept.  24,  1693. 

Mar.  31,  1695. 
Mar.  21,  1697. 
Dec.  18,  1698. 
Aug.  16,  1702. 
Jan.  23,  1703[4 
June  30,  1706. 


May 
Mar. 
July 
Feb. 
July 
Nov. 
Feb. 
July 
Apr. 
May 
Mar. 
Dec. 


16,  1708. 

4,  1711. 
19,  1713. 
21,  1702[3 
23,  1704, 

4,  1705. 

2,  1706[7 
18,  1708. 
30,  1710. 
13,  l7ll. 

8,  1713. 
26,  1714. 


APPENDIX. 


237 


Robert,  of  William, 
Elizabeth,  of    „ 
Benjamin,  of  ,, 
Mary,  of  „ 

Dorothy,  of     ,, 
Richard,  of      ,, 
Mary,  of  Samuel, 
Wm.  K    •         n 
JohnT'"'''''"^" 
John,  of  ,, 

Abigail,  of         „ 
William,  of       ,, 
Elizabeth,  of     „ 
Josiah,  of  Priscilla, 
Priscilla,  of 
Josiah,  of 
John,  of  Sarah, 
Hannah,  of  Martha, 
Jonas,  of  Margaret, 
Abigail,  of       ,, 
John,  of  ,, 

Samuel,  of 
Sarah,  of 
James,  of 
John,  of 
William,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Margaret,  of 
Margaret,  of 


Apr.  22,  1716. 
Sept.  15,  1717. 
Aug.  10,  1718. 
Nov.  1,  1719. 
Jan.  1,  1720[1 
July  15,  1722. 
Apr.  16,  1704. 

May  12,  1706, 


Oct. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Apr. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Oct. 

Feb. 

Aug. 

Sept. 

May 

Oct. 

Apr. 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Feb. 

Aug. 

Aug. 


12,  1707. 

10,  1710. 
28,  1712. 
24,  1715. 

3,  1710. 
7,  1712. 

17,  1713[4 

28,  1711. 

11,  1721[2 
7,  1726. 

29,  1728. 
6,  1733. 

14,  1694. 
5,  1696, 
5,  1697. 

22,  1699. 
26,  1701. 

23,  1714[o 
26,  1716. 
23,  1717[8 

9,  1719. 

18,  1723. 


Clerk. 
1685      Dec.  27.  George. 


Gamaliel,  of 


July  28,  1717. 


Clements. 

Abraham,  of  Anna,    Feb.  8,  1729[0 

Nathaniel,  of      „       Feb.  8,  1729[0 

Anna,  of              „       Feb.  8,  1729[0 

Susanna,  of         „       Feb.  8,  1729[0 

Sarah,  of             „       Feb.  8,  1729[0 

Clemy. 

Alexander,  of  El.       July  16,  1693. 


1689 
1691 


Apr. 

Apr. 
1705      Dec.  23 
1709      Nov.    6 
1743 
1743 
1743 

1769      May  29 
1786 


Clough. 
7.  William. 

19.  Ebenezer. 

23.  Lydia. 

6.  Sarah. 

Samuel. 

Ann. 

Benj. 

Mehetabal. 

Newbury. 


John,  of  Eben'r  and 

Martha,  Mar. 
Martha,  of  „  „  May 
Mary,  of  „  ,,  July 
Eben'r,  of  „  „  Mar. 
Ebenezer,  of  Eben'r,  Jan. 


William,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Mary,  of 
Edward,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Nathanl.   of  Joseph,  Aug 
Ruth,  of     Ruth,       Dec. 
William,  of     „ 
Susannah,  of  ,, 
James,  of        ,, 
Abigail,  of      ,, 
Mary,  of  ,, 

Elizabeth,  of  ,, 
Joseph,  of    B., 
William,  of ,, 
Lydia,  of      ,, 
Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Benj.,  of  Mehetabal,  Feb 
Mary,  of  Eliza,  Oct. 

(formerly  Fryer.) 
Newberry,  of  Eliza,  Dec 


Feb. 
Aug. 
July 
June 
Oct. 


Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Apr. 


Ellis,  of  Joseph, 
Ellis,  of 
Nathanael,  of 
Priscilla,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 
John,  of 
John,  of 
Ann,  of 
Mehetabel,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Bethiah,  of 
Bethiah,  of 
Mehetable,  of 
Benjamin,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 


Apr. 

Mar. 

Nov. 

Apr. 

Dec. 

May 

Mar. 

Feb. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

Feb. 

July 

Apr. 

Mar. 

Jan. 

Apr. 


4, 

26, 

25, 

26, 

31, 

23, 

28, 

1, 

21, 

3, 

31, 

7, 

7, 

7, 

7, 

/, 

7, 

7, 

4, 

4, 

4, 

2, 

1,' 

10, 

3, 
15, 


1694. 

1695. 

1697. 

1699. 

1702[3 

1706[7 

1709. 

1711. 

1713. 

1714. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1707. 

1719. 

1719. 

1719. 

1727. 

1729[0 

1736. 

1738. 

1739. 

1741. 

1692. 

1695. 

1697. 

1704. 

1711, 

1713[4 

1716. 

1718. 

1719[0 

1721. 

1723. 

1723. 

1728[9 

1732. 


COAMS. 


Andrew,  of  Martha,  Feb.  13,  1714[5 
Joseph,  of  Mercy,       Dec.     9,  1716. 

Co(ak)ds, 

Elizabeth,  of  Rachel,  Jan.  27,  1705[6 
Rachel,  of  "       Oct.     2,  1709. 

Samuel,  of  Mar.  16,  1712. 

COBBET. 

1709      May  22.         John. 


John,  of 


Feb.     4,  1721 [2 


238 


APPENDIX. 


Cock(s). 


1672 
1691 
1691 
1727 
1733 


Sept.  7. 
May  17. 
May  17. 
Dec.  10. 
Mar.    4. 


B. 

Nicholas. 

Sara. 

Mary  (bapt.). 

Andrew. 


Sarah,  of  Richard 

and  Sarah, 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
Margaret,  of,, 
Elizabeth,  of  Nich. 
Joseph,  of  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  of  Robert, 
Hannah,  of  Andrew, 
Ann,  of 
James,  of 
Mary,  of 
John,  of 
Abigail,  of 


CODNER. 

1725      Mar.  14.  James. 

1727 [8  Feb.  11.  Mary. 

1773      Nov.  Marv. 


Jan. 

10, 

1696[7 

Aug. 

7, 

1698. 

Aug 

28, 

1698. 

May 

25, 

1701. 

Mar. 

25, 

1733. 

Mar. 

20, 

1737. 

Apr. 

8, 

1739. 

Feb. 

11, 

1699[0 

Aug 

13, 

1704. 

July 

10, 

1715. 

Dec. 

17, 

1721. 

Mar. 

29, 

1741. 

Mary,  of  Mary, 
James,  of     ,, 
John,  of       ,, 
William,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Hannah,  of 


Mar.  7,  1703. 
Nov.  12,  1704. 
Dec.  22,  1706. 
July  24,  1709. 
Feb.  10,  171 1[2 
Dec.    5,  1714. 


1660[1     Feb.  17. 
1676[7     Jan.  16. 


S. 
Bethiah. 


Elizabeth,  of  James,  Julv  20,  1729. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  Aug.  23,  1730. 
James,  of  ,,       Dec.     5,  1731. 

Mary,  of  „       Apr.    4,  1736. 


William,  of 


Coffin. 

•-     Aug.  14,  1715. 


Cole. 
1655     Nov.  9  to 

June  3,  1657.  S. 

COLEFIX. 

Phinehas,  of  Mar.  10,  1728. 

Col(e)man. 
1670  S. 

1688      July     6.  William. 

1688      July    6.  Elizabeth. 

1693      May  or  June.  Benjamin. 


John,  of  Judith, 
WlUiam,  of 


Feb.  28,  1696[7 
Dec.  18,  1698. 


COLLICOT. 

1660[1     Feb.  17.        Richard. 


Collins. 
1695      June  30.  Hanna. 

1727[8  Jan.     7.  Rebecca. 

1735      Nov.  23.  Clement. 


Daniel,  of  Daniel, 
Rebeckah,  of 
Deborah,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Clement,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Daniel,  of 
Mary,  of 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
John,  of  Sarah, 
Sarah,  of  „ 
Clement,  of  ,, 
Rebeckah,  of,, 
Daniel,  of  Clement 

and  Sarah, 
Anna,  of  Clemens, 


Sept. 

Sept. 

Mar. 

July 

May 

Sept. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Nov. 

Mar. 

Sept. 


28,  1696. 

28,  1696. 

5,  1699. 

27,  1701. 
13,  1704. 
15,  1706. 
13,  1709. 
20,  1712. 
23,  1717[8 

5,  1708. 
30,  1708[9 
20,  1730. 

28,  1731. 
11,  1733. 

29,  1734. 


June    6,  1736. 
July  16,  1738. 


COMBEE. 

1681      Mar.     1.  Robert. 

Comer. 

1683  Nov,    4.  S. 

CONDY,  or  CUNDY. 

1684  June    8.  William. 


William,  of  Chr., 

Aug.  11,  1695. 

Bartlet,  of      „ 

July  21,  1700. 

William,  of  Jerem 

ah,Aug.  17,  1707. 

Jeremiah,  of      ,, 

Feb.  20,  1708[9 

Elizabeth,  of     ,, 

Mar.  11,  1711. 

Susannah,  of    „ 

Mar.  14,  1714. 

Mary,  of            ,, 

Dec.  11,  1715. 

Mary,  of            „ 

Jan.  20,  1716[7 

William,  of       „ 

Sept.  18,  1720. 

Mary,  of            „ 

July    4,  1725. 

Joanna,  of 

Dec.     2,  1716. 

Abigail,  of 

Nov.  20,  1720. 

Co 

ney. 

1672      Sept.    7. 

John. 

1677[8  Jan.   20. 

Eliza. 

1718[9  Feb.  15. 

Ann. 

1722      Sept.  30. 

Abigail. 

1722      Sept.  30. 

Mehetabel. 

Cook. 

1717      Apr.    7. 

Margaret. 

APPENDIX. 


239 


Lydia,  of  Lydia,         Aug.  24,  1707. 

COOKSON. 

1727  Apr.     2.  John. 

1727  Nov.  12.  John. 

1727  Nov.  12.  Rachel. 

1727  Dec.  24.  Elizabeth. 


John,  of 
Rachel,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Obadiah,  of 
Reuben,  of 
Samuel,  of 


July  7,  1706. 
Sept.  14,  1707. 
Oct.  10,  1708. 
Feb.  5,  1709[0 
May  13,  1711. 
Feb.     3,  1716[7 


Margaret,  of  Margt.,  June    1,  1740. 

COOLEY. 

John,  of        M.,  Apr.  23,  1693. 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Apr.  23,  1693. 

Ezekiel,  of     „  Apr.  23,  1693. 


William,  of 
John,  of  William, 

Sarah,  of  ,, 

William,  of  „ 

Abigail,  of  „ 

Mary,  of  „ 

Jemimah,  of  ,, 

Dorcas,  of  ,, 

Elizabeth,  of  „ 


Cooper. 

Sept. 


Nov. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Aug. 
Dec. 
Apr. 
June 
May 


6,  1713. 

6,  1720. 

1,  1723. 

3,  1725. 
20,  1727. 
28,  1729. 
23,  1732. 
16,  1734. 
22,  1737. 


1693 


Cop. 
May  or  June.  John. 


1706[7 


CORAGIL. 

Jan.   26        John. 


John,  of  John, 
James,  of    „ 


Sept.    9,  1716. 
Sept.  20,  1719. 


1696 


Corwither(y). 
June  22.         Elizabeth. 


David,  of  Eliz.,  July    5,1696. 

CORWYN. 

1700      Nov.  24.         Elizabeth. 


1679 
1689 


Cotton. 
Aug.  31..        John. 
Dec.     8.  Ann. 


Thomas,  of  John 

and  Ann,  Apr.  26,  1696. 

Counts,  or  Counce. 
Susanna,  of  Edw. 

and  Sus.,  Jan.     2,  1731] 2 


John,  of  Edw.  &Sus.,  Nov.  18,  1733. 
Marv,  of  „  „  June  29,  1735. 
Pierce,  „         „     May  29,  1737. 

Samuel,  of  „  ,,  Aug.  5,  1739. 
Hannah  C  „  )  j^^^     19,1741. 

Sarah      ^    twins.    3 

Courser,  or  Coarser. 
1735 [6  S.  Deliverance. 

Eliza,  of  Eliza,  Mar.  11,  1739. 

Covel(l). 


Jane,  of 
William,  of 
Thomas,  of 


Sept.  10,  1721. 

Jan.     6,  1722[3 

Aug.    1,  1725. 


1728 
1732 


COVERLY. 

June  30.  Thomas. 

Apr.     9.  John. 


Thomas,  of  Mary, 
Susannah,  of 
Susannah,  of  Sus., 
Jlary,  of 
John,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Nathanael,  of 
Mary,  of 
Hannah,  of  John, 
John,  of  „ 

John,  of  John  and 

Eliza, 
Mills,  of      „ 
Thomas,  of  „         „ 
Elizabeth,  of  John, 
Rowel,  of 
Elizab.,  of  Hannah, 


June  6, 
June  20, 
July  18, 
Jan.  21, 
Jan.  3, 
Feb.  24, 
July  13, 
Aug.  13, 
May  30, 
Apr.    8, 


1708. 

1714. 

1714. 

1710[1 

1713[4 

1716[7 

1718. 

1721. 

1731. 

1733. 


May  23,  1736. 
Feb.  26,  1737[8 
Feb.  24,  1739[0 
Aug.  30,  1741. 
May  28,  1738. 
Sept.  30,  1739. 


COWPER. 

1714[5     Jan.  23       William. 


1666 
1691 
1691 
1693 
1694 
1707 
1742 


Cox(e). 
Apr.  29.  Robert. 


Oct.  4. 
Nov.  1. 
Mar.  19. 

Mar.  16. 


Elizabeth. 

Mary. 

Martha. 

Elizabeth. 

Agnes. 

Mary. 


Susanna,  of  Nich., 
Isaac,  of 
Elias,  of  Agnes, 
Andrew,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  Jonathan, 
Mary,  of  Eliza, 
William,  of  „ 
Elizabeth,  of 


Mar.  26,  1693. 
Apr.  23,  1693. 
Apr.  6,  1707. 
Feb.  13,  1714[5 
Feb.  28,  1713[4 
Aug.  21,  1726. 
Nov.  17,  1728. 
Jan.  25,  1701[2 


24U 


APPENDIX. 


Joanna,  of 
Ruth,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Martha,  of 
James,  of 
of 
Elizabeth,  of 


Jan.     7,  1704[5 
Nov.  13,  1709. 
Apr.  20,  1712. 
Mar.  31,  1717. 
Jan.   19,  1723[4 
Jan.  30,  1731[2 
Aug.  10,  1735. 


Crabtkee. 
1655     Nov.  9  to 

June  3,  1657.  S. 

Craft,  or  Cruft(s),  or  Cruff. 
1772      Jan.  26.  Ann. 


John  of  Abigail, 
Mary,  of         ,, 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Foster,  of       ,, 
Edward,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Edward,  of 


Aug.  14, 
Jan.  28, 
Aug.  1, 
June  2, 
Aug.  26, 
Jan.  28, 
Apr.  11, 
May  4, 
Aug.    9, 


Crehore. 
1729      June  29.  Benjamin. 

1729      June  29.  Ruhama. 


John,  of 
1702 


July    2,  1727. 


Cresey. 
June  28.  Susanna. 


Critchet. 
1678      June    2.  Henry. 

Crocker. 
1786  Joseph. 

Prior  to  1786.  Hannah. 

Crosby. 


1792  or  3. 


Amos. 


1720. 

1727[8 

1731. 

1734. 

1716. 

1721 [2 

1725. 

1729. 

1730. 


John,  of  Samuel, 
Abigail,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
William,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Sarah,  of  Samuel, 
Abigail,  of 
William,  of 
John,  of 
Preserved,  of 
Hannah,  of 


Cross. 
John,  of  Sarah,  June  26,  1709. 

EUzabeth,  of  Feb.  18,  1710[1 


1714 


CUMBY. 

Dec.  26.         Bebecka. 


Mary,  of  Robert,        Dec.  28,  1690. 

Cummin(g)s. 
Thomas,  of  Oct.  28,  1694. 

Sarah,  of  Sept.  20,  1696. 

Cunnabel(l). 
Mary,  of  Jan.  23,  1703  [4 


May 

Jan. 

Apr. 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

Mar. 

Sept. 

Mar. 

Aug. 

Nov, 

Oct. 


27,  1711. 

4,  1712[3 
25,  1714. 
18,  1716. 

18,  1716. 

7,  1717. 
1,  1719. 

23,  1722. 

8,  1724. 
15,  1725. 

5,  1727. 

19,  1729. 


1688 
1711 


Curtis. 
June    3.  JNIary. 

June    3.  Mary. 


Mary,  of 


Apr.  22,  1694. 


CUSHING. 

1669  May  16.  S. 

1672  Sept.    7.  Jeremiah. 

1690  Mar.     2.  Thomas. 

1700  July  28,  Benjamin. 


Elizab,,  of  Thomas,  Nov.    8,1691. 

Thomas,  of        „  Feb.     4,  1693  [4 

Margaret,  of      „  July  19,  1696. 

Deborah,  of       „  June  18,  1699. 

Jonathan,  of     „  Mar.  16,  1701. 

Hannah,  of       „  Jan.   17,  1702[3 

Samuel,  of        „  Jan.   14,  1704[5 

Jeremiah,  of  Judith,  Oct.  11,  1696. 

John,  of  Mar.  19,  1699. 

Benjamin,  of  Nov.  17,  1700. 

Ebenezer,  of  May  28,  1 704. 

John,  of  July    8,  1705. 

Ebenezer,  of  Judith,  May    7,  1710. 

Cutler. 
William,  of  Elizab.,   June    1,1718, 
Hannah,  of  Hannah,  Apr,     7,  1728. 
Timothy,  of  Oct,   19,  1736. 

Cutts, 
1727[8     Jan,  7,         Hannah. 

Daffon. 
Henry,  of  Mary,        Jan.  26,  1728[9 

Dagget, 
1717[8     Feb.  23.       Lydia, 


Lydia,  of  Lydia,        Jan,  31,  1713[4 
Lydia,  of  Feb.    5,  1715[6 

Susannah,  of  Lydia,  Oct.  15,  1721, 
Rebeckah,  of      „       Sept.  27,  1719. 


APPENDIX. 


241 


Daniel. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Elizabeth,  of  Zab., 
Mary,  of  Zabadiah, 
Nathaniel,  of    „ 
Elizabeth,  of     „ 
John,  of  ,, 

Samuel,  of        ,, 
Joanna,  of         „ 


Sept.    8,  1706. 
Jan.   23,  1708[9 
Jan.    15,  1709[0 
Dee.  21,  1712. 
Oct.     3,  1714. 
Jan.   20,  1716[7 
Feb.  22,  1718[9 
Aug.    6,  1721. 


Davenport. 
1689[0     Jan.   26.        Ann. 


Ann,  of  Ann,  Jan.  26,  1689[0 

Abigail,  of  John 

and  Abigail,  Feb.  24,  1733 [4 

Davis. 
1650      June    5.  George. 

1677      Apr.  13.  Ann. 

1691      Mar.  15.  Elizabeth. 

1786  Nathan. 


Hannah,  of  Eliza, 
Sarah,  of  „ 

John,  of  EL, 
EUzabeth,  of  „ 
Thomas,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  „ 

John,  of  Eliza, 
Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
James,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Thomas,  of 


Oct. 

Oct. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

Apr. 

Aug. 

May 

Oct. 

Sept. 

May 


23,  1692. 
23,  1692. 
23,  1696. 
23,  1696. 
23,  1696. 
23.  1696. 
23,  1719. 
20,  1711. 
18,  1713. 
13,  1719. 
22,  1720. 


1729 


Davison. 
June  29.         William. 


Dawes. 
Elizabeth,  of  Thos.,   Apr.  19,  1730. 

Dawson,  or  Dosson, 
1678      Apr.  14.  Henry. 

1728 [9  Jan.     5.  Mary. 


Thomas,  of  Henry,  Nov.  22,  1691. 

James,  of  „  Feb.     9,  1695[6 

Hannah,  of      „  Mar,  20,  1698. 

Elizabeth,  of    „  Mar.  31,  1700. 

Mary,  of  James,  Nov.    1,1719. 

Samuel,  of  Feb.  16,  1723[4 

Henry,  of  Apr.    2,  1727. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mary,  Mar.  14,  1731. 

Abigail,  of        „  Mar.  10,  1734. 

Abigail,  of        „  Feb.     1,  1735[6 

Day. 

1677      Apr.    G.  S. 

1694  Sarah. 
31 


1696      Oct.   11. 


Abigail. 


1669      Apr. 


1698 
1779 


Apr. 
Dec. 


Deacon. 

4.  John. 

Dean. 
3.  Jane. 

5.  Mary. 


Mar}'',  of  Jane, 
Thomas,  of  „ 
Jane,  of        „ 


Apr.  3,  1698. 
Apr.  3,  1698. 
Sept.  4,  1698. 


1723 


Dela  Place. 
Jan.   12.         Eliza. 


Demeney. 
1697      Aug.  22.  Sarah. 


1679      July 


Dence. 
6.  S. 


Denham. 
1689      Oct.  27.         Ann. 


Samuel,  of  Eliza, 
Anna,  of        „ 
Sarah,  of        „ 
Anna,  of  Ann, 
John,  of 
Ann,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Mary,  of 
of 
Bethiah,  of 


Apr.  17, 
Sept.  3, 
Oct.  13, 
Apr.  23, 
Oct.  17, 
Sept.  20, 
July  9, 
Oct.  14, 
Oct.  21, 
Feb.     8, 


1692. 
1693. 
1700. 
1699. 
1697. 
1702. 
1704. 
1705. 
1705. 
1707[8 


1728[9 


Dennis. 

Susanna. 


Damaris,  of  Ebenr.,  Aug.    2,  1702. 

Susannah,  of  Oct.  24,  1708. 

Marv,  of  Susannah,  Jan.    21,  1710[1 

Ebenezer,  of    „  Feb.  21,  1713[4 

Michael,  of      „  Dec.  11,  1715. 


1696 


Denison. 
May  10.         Mercy. 


Derby. 
1689[0     Feb.  23.        Sara. 


1659 


1725 


Dexter. 
Nov.    6.         S. 

Diamond. 
Apr.  11.         Ann. 


Thomas,  of  Ann, 
William,  of    „ 


Nov.  21,  1708. 
Mar.  25,  1711. 


242 


APPENDIX. 


Mary,  of  Marj', 
John,  of 


Mar.  25,  1711. 
Sept.  20,  1713. 


1725 


DiMMOCK,  or  DiMMICK. 

May  23.  Jabez. 


Mercy,  of  Mary, 
Mary,  of  Jabez, 


Mar.  15, 
Jan.   29, 


1724. 

1726[7 


1658 


DiNSDAlL. 

Dec.  26.  B. 


DiXWELL. 

Mary,  of  John,  Dec.  IS,  1709. 

Elizabeth,  of,,  Mar.  21,  1714. 

Dou. 
1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3, 1657.  S. 

DOLEBERRT. 

1691      July  to  Sept.  EUzabeth. 


Elizabeth,  of 


July  12,  1691. 


DoLBIEK,  or  DOLBEAR. 

1700      July  21.  Sarah. 


John,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Samuel,  of 


Apr.  26,  1702. 
Apr.  9,  1704. 
May  18,  1707. 


Dorr. 

1680  Nov.  14.         Edward. 

1681  June  19.  S. 

DORRINGTON. 

1773   Oct.  3.    Mary. 


"William,  of 

May 

3. 

Mary,  of 

Aug. 

22, 

John,  of 

Jan. 

1, 

Samuel,  of  Damaris, 

May 

3, 

Elizabeth,  of 

Apr. 

18, 

Stephen,  of  Damaris 

,  Apr. 

8, 

Sarah,  of 

Mar. 

30, 

Margaret,  of 

June  20, 

George,  of  Damaris, 

Feb. 

26, 

George,  of         „ 

June  10, 

Douglas. 

1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3, 1657 

B. 

1655      Nov.  9  to 

Junes,  1657 

S. 

1724. 
1725. 

1726[7 

1730. 

1731. 

1733. 

1735. 

1736. 

1737[8 

1739. 


Douse. 

Hannah,  of  Nathl.,  Oct.  31,1697. 

(of  Charlestown.) 


DoAVDiNG,  or  Dowden. 
1725      Apr.  18.  Joseph. 


Leonard,  of  Ann, 
Ann,  of  „ 

Joseph,  of  Joseph, 
Joseph,  of  Ann, 
Sands,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Rebeckah, of , 
EUzabeth,  of, 
Isabellah,  of , 


July  7,  1695. 
Jan.  2,  1697[8 
Nov.  24,  1700. 
Nov.  8,  1702. 
Mar.  5,  1704. 
Feb.  18,  1704[5 
Sept.  14,  1707. 
Oct.  2,  1709. 
Aug.  31,  1712. 


Downs. 


1667      Aug.    8. 


S. 


DOWRICK. 

Mary,  of  Martha 

(Goodwin),  May  27,  1733. 

Draper. 
Moses,  of  Moses 

and  Mary,  Sept.  17,  1693. 

Drisco. 
1725      May  23.  Elizabeth. 


1716 


Drummond. 
Mar.  11.         Mary. 


DUMERIT,  or  DUMERAY,  &C. 

1690      Mar.    2.  Charles. 

1718      May  11.  Hannah. 


John,  of  Charles, 
Thomas,  of    „ 
Sara,  of  ,, 

Sara,  of  ,, 

Mary,  of        „ 
Benjamin,  of ,, 
Martha,  of     „ 
Sarah,  of        „ 
Samuel,  of     „ 
John,  of  John, 
John,  of      ,, 
Sarah,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Charles,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Charles,  of  Hannah, 
Sarah,  of 
Silas,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Silas,  of 
Mary,  of 
Anna,  of 
Thomas,  of 


Mar.  16, 
Mar.  16, 
Mar.  16, 
Dec.  7, 
Feb.  21, 
Apr.  8, 
June  9, 
June  9, 
June  28, 
Jan.  7, 
Nov.  16, 
May  2, 
Aug.  21, 
Dec.  23, 
Sept.  7, 
Sept.  28, 
Aug.  16, 
Oct.  25, 
Sept.  4, 
Nov.  6, 
Dec.  3, 
Apr.  29, 
Oct.  20, 
Nov.  17, 
Nov.  15, 


1690. 

1690. 

1690. 

1690. 

1691[2 

1694. 

1695. 

1700. 

1702. 

1710[1 

1712. 

1714. 

1715. 

1716. 

1718. 

1718. 

1719. 

1719. 

1720. 

1720. 

1721. 

1722. 

1723. 

1723. 

1724. 


APPENDIX. 

John,  of 

Feb.  27, 

1725[6 

Roger,  of 

June  25, 

Ebenezer,  of 

July  23, 

1727. 

John,  of  Robert  and 

of 

July  30, 

1727. 

Sarah 

Aug.  22, 

Thomas,  of  John, 

July  13, 

1729. 

Richard,  of  Roger, 

Feb.     5, 

Hannah,  of       ,, 

Oct.  25, 

1730. 

Ann,  of            ,, 

Aug.  23, 

John,  of            ,, 

May  25, 

1735. 

Robert,  of        „ 

Feb.     4, 

Ebenezer,  of    ,, 

May  22, 

1737. 

Mary,  of  Mary, 

Oct.     8, 

Mary,  of           „ 

Mar.  30, 

1740. 

Sarah,  of      „ 

Sept.  18, 

Hannah,  of 

Apr.  23, 

1732. 

Martha,  of  „ 

Feb.     4, 

Elizab.,  of  Hannah, 

Aug.  12, 

1733. 

Mary,  of      „ 

Dec.     1, 

Ezekiel,  of  Abigail, 

Sept.    4, 

1737. 

Ann,  of        „ 
Robert,  of    ,, 

Jan.  29, 
Feb.     3, 

Dun. 

Lydia,  of 

Apr.  13, 

Nathl.,  of  Nicholas, 

May  13, 

1711. 

Samuel,  of 

Mar.  12, 

Anna,  of          ,, 

Dee.  28, 

1712. 

Mary,  of 

Sept.    9, 

Samuel,  of 

Nov.  28, 

1714. 

Robert,  of 
Abigail,  of 

Oct.  20, 
Feb.  13, 

Dunbar. 

Sarah,  of 

July    7, 

1723      Aug.    4. 

Samuel. 

John,  of 

Mar.  28, 

DUPEE. 

Eaton. 

Prior  to  1786. 

Elias. 

1739      Dec.  30. 

Sarah. 

1720 


DURGEE. 

June  12.  Abigail. 


Abigail,  of  Juno  19,  1720. 

Samuel,  of  July  30,  1721. 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,  Feb.  23,  1723[4 

Mary,  of  July  31,  1726. 

Andrew,  of  Jan.   26,  1728[9 


1694 


DUTSON. 

June  10.  Mary. 


Dyer,  or  Dyar,  or  Dier. 
1691      July  to  Sept.  Samuel. 
1693      June  10.  Henry  (bapt.). 


Samuel,  of 

July  12, 

1691 

Lydia,  of  Samuel, 

July  26, 

1691 

Elizabeth,  of   „ 

Nov.  15, 

1691 

Samuel,  of       „ 

May  26, 

1695 

William,  of      „ 

Dec.     6, 

1696 

Mary,  of           „ 

May     7, 

1699 

Barrett,  of  Barrett, 

Oct.  24, 

1703 

Nathaniel,  of  Jane, 

July  24, 

1715 

William,  of 

Juno    2, 

1717 

D— 

_. 

1721      Apr.     9. 

Sarah. 

Earl. 

1694      Sept.  30. 

Robert. 

1694      Sept.  30. 

Roger. 

1699      Sept.    3. 

Mary. 

1727      Dec.  24. 

Abigail. 

Robert,  of 


June  25,  1693, 


243 


1693. 

1697. 

1698[9 

1702. 

170  4  [5 

1699. 

1720. 

1732[3 

1734. 

1737[8 

1739[0 

1701. 

1704. 

1705. 

1723. 

1725[6 

1728. 

1731. 


E(a)yres. 
1677      Mar.  23.  S. 

1684[5  Jan.    18.  Nathaniel. 

E(e)des. 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliz.,      Apr.    9,  1693. 
Edward,  of  Edward,  June  10,  1705. 
John,  of  Nov.    9,  1707. 

Jonathan,  of  Aug.    7,  1709. 

Martha,  of  May  27,  1711. 

Jonathan,  of  Feb.  20,  1714[5 

Edmonds* 
Prior  to  1786,  Joseph. 

Edwards. 
1677[8  Feb.  17.         Mary. 


Daniel,  of  Martha,  June 

Thomas,  of      „  June 

John,  of  Oct. 

John,  of  Feb. 

Katharine,  of  Kath.,  Sept. 

Sarah,  of  „  Aujj. 

Samuel,  of  ,,  July 

Hannah,  of  Benj.,  June 

Benjamin,  of  „  June 


20,  1703. 
20,  1703. 

17,  1703. 

18,  1704[5 
I,  1706. 
3,  1707. 

24,  1709. 
29,  1712. 
16,  1717. 


Eldridge. 
1693      May  or  June,  Hannah. 

Eli. 
1672      Oct.  20.         B. 
1672[3  Feb.  12.         S. 


244 


APPENDIX. 


Vynes,* 


Elicut. 


Sept.  26,  1697. 


Ellet. 
1714[5     Jan.   16.        S.  Marra. 


John,  of         Maria,  Mar.  20,  1715. 

Bartholomew,  of  „  June    3,1716. 

Maria,  of  „  Mav  11,  1718. 

John,  of  „  June  11,  1721. 

Elliot. 
1732      Dec.  10.         Martha. 


Ann,  of  Theodosia,     Sept.  23,1711. 
Clark,  of  Martha,       Dec.  31,  1732. 

Ellis. 
1689[0     Feb.  23.        Mary. 


James 
Susan 

h.J*^^ 

•ins 

of 

Nov.  15,  1/ 

Emms, 

or 

Em(m)es. 

1673 

Dec. 

6. 

Henry. 

1708 

Mar. 

21. 

Hephsibah 

1718 

Oct. 

5. 

Sarah. 

1782 

Nathaniel. 

Nathaniel,  of  Henry,  Oct.  12,1690. 
Elizabeth,  of  Apr.    7,  1695. 

Samuel,  of  Bethia,  Mar.  28,  1697. 
Robert,  of        ,,  Mar.  28,  1697. 

Robert,  of  Apr.  11,  1697. 

Benjamin,  of  Apr.    2,  1699. 

Jacob,  of  Mary,  June  22,  1701. 

Saml.,  of  Hephsebah,  July  5,  1713. 
Hephsibah,  of  ,,  June  5,  1715. 
Mary,  of  „        June    2,  1717. 

Elizabeth,  of      „        Jan.   29,  1720[1 
Henry,  of  Dec.  28,  1718. 


1699 


Emunds. 
Nov.  19.         Elizabeth. 


1769      Oct.   29. 


Mary. 


Elizabeth,  of  Love, 
William,  of        ,, 


Endicot. 
Benjamin,  of  Hanna,  June  28,  1691. 
John,  of     Mary         Feb.  19,  1692[3 
Bayworth,  of  „  Apr.    7,  1695. 

English. 
1667      Aug.    8.  S. 

1688      July     6.         James. 
1690      May     4.  Elizabeth. 

1690      May  25.  Mary. 

•  A  youth,  about  twelve  years  of  age,  presented 
by  a  woman  of  tlie  Old  Church  (one  Cable,  who 
had  brought  him  up)  in  their  knowledae,  and  for 
the  service  of  Christ ;  and  promised  still  to  do  so. 


Feb. 
Feb. 


I,  1700[1 
r,  1702[3 


Eustace(tis). 


1689  Mar.  24. 

1707  June  22. 

1715  May     1. 

1715  May     1. 

1720[1  Jan.    15. 

1720[1  Jan.    15. 

1728  Mar.  10. 

Rachel,  of     R., 
David,  of        „ 
Elizabeth,  of ,, 
Mary,  of         „ 
Joshua,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Jonathan,  of  Sarah, 
Sarah,  of  „ 

Mary,  of  „ 

Susannah,  of 
Hannah,  of 
James,  of 
Abigail,  of 
John,  of 

Joseph,  of  William, 
Thomas,  of        ,, 
Nathaniel,  of    „ 
Samuel,  of        ,, 
Benjamin,  of  Benj. 
George,  of 
Joshua,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Benjamin,  of 
Jacob,  of 
Katharine,  of 
Joseph,  posth.  of 

David, 


Joseph. 

Rachel. 

Benjamin. 

Katharin. 

William. 

Sarah. 

Joseph. 


Apr.  13, 
Apr.  13, 
Apr.  13, 
Apr.  13, 
Feb.  14, 
Apr.  29, 
May  19, 
June  23, 
June  23, 
June  23, 
Feb.  2, 
Apr.  13, 
Apr.  10, 
May  6, 
Apr. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Dec.  26, 
Apr.  27, 
June  22, 
Nov.  8, 
Apr.  17, 
July  29, 
June  30, 


1701. 

1701. 

1701. 

1701. 

1702[3 

1705. 

1706. 

1706. 

1706. 

1706. 

1706[7 

1707. 

1709. 

1711. 

1713. 

1713. 

1713. 

1713. 

1713. 

1714. 

1718. 

1718. 

1719. 

1720. 

1722. 

1723. 


Sept.  13,  1730. 


Evans. 

Jona.,  of  Jonathan,  Apr.    7,  1695. 

Elizabeth,  of  Oct.     4,  1696. 

Robert,  of  June  18,  1699. 

Bathsheba,  of  Mar.    9,  1701. 

David,  of  Sept.  29,  1706. 

Joseph,  of  Aug.  28,  1709. 

EVERTON,  or  EVERDIN. 

Elizabeth,  of  Feb.  11,  169  3  [4 

Joanna,  of  Dec.  15,  1695. 

EwiN. 

Michael,  of  Ed.,         Jan.     8,  1709[0 
EHzabeth,  of  „  Jan.     8,  1709[0 


APPENDIX. 


245 


Fairweather. 
Jerusha,  of  Jerusha,  Aug.  26,  1711. 


Eliza,  of 
John,  of 
John,  of 
Mary,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 


June  21,  1713. 
July  31,  1715. 
Sept.  30,  171(). 
Jan.  12,  1717[ 
Mar.  22,  1719. 


Farmer. 
1734      May  26.         Mary. 
1771      Jan.   27.         John. 


Thomas,  of 
Paul,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Ann,  of 
John,  of 
Marj',  of  Mary, 


Oct.  10,  1714. 
Apr.  22,  1716. 
Apr.  20,  1718. 
July  19,  1719. 
Oct.  2,  1720. 
Dec.    8,  1734. 


Farnham,  or  Farnhum. 


1650  June    5. 

1658[9  Jan.   16. 

1688  Apr.  15. 

1689  Apr.  7. 
1693  Sept.  24. 
1769 


John. 

S. 

Martha. 

Dorothy. 

Jonathan  (bapt.). 

Ann. 


John,  of  Dorothy,  Dec.  14,  1690. 
Mary,  of        „  Oct.  23,  1692. 

Elizabeth,  of  Martha,  Oct.  19,1691. 
Joseph,  of  Jonathan,  Oct.  22,  1693. 
Martha,  of  Jonathan 

and  Martha,  Mar.  29,  1696. 
Dorothy,  of  David,  Oct.  4,1696. 
Elizab.,  of  Jonathan,  Apr.  2,  1699. 
Jonathan,  of  „  July  10,  1709. 
Susannah,  of  June  17,  1711. 

John,  of  Sept.  20,  1713. 

John,  of  Jan.     1,  17 15 [6 

Fator. 
John,  of  Sarah,  Aug.   9,1724. 

Fauk(e)s. 
1704      Aug.    6.         Thomas. 


Sarah,  of  Thomas 

and  Sarah,  Apr.  17,  1709. 
John,  of  Aug.  12,  1711. 

Faxon. 
1695[6  Jan.   26.         Abigail. 

F(e)athergil(l),  or  Fotheroil(l). 
Eliza,  of  Robert,  Feb.  5,  1709[0 
Mary,  of  Dec.     6,  1713. 

Robert,  of  Robert,     June  16,  1717. 
Sarah,  of  Apr.  26,  1724. 

Joseph,  of  July  18,  1725. 


Mary,  of  Robert, 
Susanna,  of  „ 
Abigail,  of 
Abigail,  of  Robert, 
Richard,  of      „ 


Dec.  25,  1726. 
Nov.  17,  1728. 
Sept.  6,  1730. 
Sept.  26,  1731. 
May     4,  1735. 


Fennecy. 
Prior  to  1786.  Elizabeth. 

Fenno. 
1771      May  Elizabeth. 

Feveryear(e),  or  Fevriere. 
1708[9  Feb.  13.  Grafton. 

1718      Mar.  16.  Joanna. 

1728      May    5.  Sarah. 


Grafton,  of  Grafton 

aaid  Sarah,  Aug. 


4,  1728. 


Thomas,  of     „     „  Aug.  31,  1729. 

John,  of  „     „  Apr.    4,  1731. 

Grafton,  of     „     „  Sept.    3,  1732. 

Sarah,  of         „     „  Aug.  18,  1734. 

Joseph,  of        „     „  June  20,  1736. 

Mary,  of  „     ,.  May  21,  1738. 

Mehetabel,  of  Dea. 

Grafton,  Mar.     2,  1740. 

Fitch. 
Benjamin,  of  Mary,    Jan.  21,  1693[4 
Eliphalet,  of  Nov.    3,  1695. 

Mary,  of  May  29,  1698. 


Flack. 


Mary,  of  Mary, 
John,  of 
Samuel,  of 
John,  of 
Solomon,  of  John, 


Mar.  4,  1694. 
May  31,  1696. 
Mar.  13,  1698. 
Mar.  17,  1700. 
May  24,  1702. 


Flag(g),  &c. 
Mary,  of  Thomas,       Mar.     2,1707. 
William,  of  Nov.  28,  1708. 

Esther,  of  Mar.  18,  1711. 

Hannah,  of  Dec.    7,  1712. 

Thomas,  of  Thomas,  July    3,  1715. 
Joseph,  of  Aug.   4,  1717. 

John,  of  Sept.    7,  1718. 

Mary,  of  May    8,  1720. 

Fleming. 
Elizabeth,  of  Ehza,    Mar.     4,1716. 
Elizabeth,  of  July  13,  1718. 

Thomas,  of  Mar.  13,  1720. 

Fletcher. 
1722      Apr.    1.  William. 

1722      Apr.     1.  Margery. 


246 


APPENDIX. 


Wm.,  of  Margaret,     Jan.    18,  1712[3 
Thomas,  of  May  29,  1715. 

Amie,  of  Dec.     7,  1718. 

Margaret,  of  Jan.     8,  1720[1 

Thomas,  of  Feb.     9,  1723[4 

Daniel,  of  William,  May  13,1722. 
Thomas,  of  ,,  Apr.  18,  1725. 
John,  of  „         Nov.  20,  1726. 

Ammi,  of  William 

and  Marj%  Nov.    3,  1728. 
Thomas,  of     „     „     Feb.     1,  1729[0 
Mary,  of  William 

and  Margaret,  May  20,  1733. 
William  (grandson 

of  William),  Feb.     1,  1740[1 


Fling. 


Kichard,  of 


Sept.  16,  1711. 


1770 


Flood. 
Aug.  26.  Abigail. 


Flowee. 
1718[9     Feb.  15.        John. 

FORU. 

1689      June  23.  Mehetabel. 

Forbes. 
Lydia,  of  Sarah,         Mar.  15,  1719. 


1719 


For(r)est. 
Apr.    5.  Mary. 


Mary,  of  Mar}% 
Charles,  of 
Jannet,  of 
Sarah,  of 


May  3,  1719. 
Sept.  17,  1721. 
Sept,  2,  1722. 
July     3,  1726. 


1745 


For(e)syth(e). 

Alexander,  jun. 


Robert,  of  Aug.  25,  1723. 

John,  of  July  17,  1726. 

John,  of  Deborah,      Nov.    7,1731. 

FOSDYKE. 

Stephen,  of  Sept.    2,  1694. 

Richard,  of  July  10,  1698. 

(Both  of  Cliarlestown.) 


Foster. 


1673  Apr.  6. 
1684  Sept.  21. 
1685[6  Jan.   31. 

1713  Sept.  20. 

1714  Sept.    5. 

1715  Apr.  17. 


B.  Hope. 

Lydia. 

John. 

Benjamin. 

Mary. 

Experience. 


Mary,  of  John,  Aug. 

(of  Cliarlestown.) 
Sarah,  of  June 

Anna,  of  Feb. 

William,  of  Sarah,     Apr. 
Elizabeth,  of  Aug. 

Hopestill,  )  .    .        f  T  1 

Elizabeth,  5  *""''"' "^^^^ 
Katharin,  of 

John,         ) i    •         c 
William,  r^vms  of 

Elisha,  of  May 

Elizabeth,  of  Feb. 

John,  of  Apr. 

Mary,  of  Sept. 

Danforth,  of  July 

Edward,  of  Sept. 


21,  1698. 


AU£ 

Dec. 


1701. 

1704[5 

1707. 

1707. 

1708. 

1708. 

1710. 

1711. 

I7r2[3 

1713. 

1715. 

1717. 

1720. 


Fowl(e"). 
1690[1  Feb.  21.  Love. 

1691      Oct.     4.  James. 

1691      Oct.     4.  Margaret. 

1691      Oct.     4.  Dorothy. 

1694  Katharin. 


John,  of  Katharine,    Apr.     9,  1693. 

Elizabeth,  of  K.,         Oct.   22,  1693. 

Bariah,  of  Mar.    6,  1698. 

(of  Charlestown.) 


1686 
1709 


Fox. 
Nov.    7.  Mary. 

May  22.  Ilanna. 


Thomas,  of  Hannah,  Dec.     8,  1706. 
Hannah,  of  June  27,  1708. 

Judith,  of  Aug.  26,  1711. 

Rebeckah,  of  Feb.  21,  1713[4 


Mary,  of 


Franks. 

Aug.  21,  1715. 


Freeland. 
1660[1     Feb.  17.        William. 

Freeman. 
1706      Mar.  24.  James. 

1711      June    3.  Rachel. 

1728      June  30.  Alice. 


Thomas,  of  Alice,      Sept.    7,  1701. 


Mary,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Henry,  of 
Richard,  of 
Thomas,  of 


June  6,  1703. 
July  29,  1705. 
Mar.  11,  1711. 
July  20,  1712. 
June  20,  1714. 


Samuel,  of  James,      Jan.  26,  1706[7 


Michael,  of 


French. 

Jam     6,  1716[7 


APPENDIX. 


247 


James,  of 
Nathaniel,  of 
Philippa,  of 


Apr.  2G,  1719. 
Oct.  23,  1720. 
Sept.  27,  1724. 


1655 
1659 


Frier,  or  Fryer. 
Nov.  9  to 
Junes,  1657.  S. 
Mar.  13.  Nathaniel. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,    Sept.  14,  1735. 

Frizzel. 

1709  Mar.  21.  John. 

Frost. 
1711      June    3.  Ann. 

FR0TmNG(H)AM. 

1707      Nov.    9.  Esther. 

(Wife  of  William.) 

1710  June  25.  Anna. 

(Wife  of  Jolin.) 


Peter,  of  Esther, 
Esther,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  „ 
William,  of  „ 
Richard,  of  ,, 
Richard,  of   „ 


Dec.  1,  1695. 
Dec.  1,  1695. 
Dec.  5,  1697. 
July  27,  1707. 
June  18,  1710. 
Apr.  17,  1715. 


1681      Mar. 


Fuller. 
1.  Ann. 


1677 


1710 


FULWOOD. 

Apr.  or  May.  S. 

FyFIELD,  or  FlEFIELD. 

Oct.     1.  Giles. 


Hannah,  of  David,     Nov.    1,1719. 


1696 


Gage. 
May   10.  Agnes. 


Gallant. 
1699      Nov.  19.         Hannah. 


Hannah,  of 


Sept.  13,  1702. 


Gallop. 
1662[3     Feb.  22.        Mary. 

Gamal. 
William,  of  May  24,  1724. 

John,  of  Dec.  12,  1725. 

Elizabeth,  of  Sept.    8,  1728. 

Gard(e)xer. 
1691     June  or  July.  Samuel. 


1747      Joseph, 

(From  Newport.) 
1768  Susannah. 

1792  or  3  J.inuel. 

1792  James. 


Elizabeth,  of  Samuel,  Feb.     9,  1695[6 

Mary,  of  „  Dec.  18,  1698. 

Mary,  of  „  July  21,  1700. 

Samuel,  of  „  Dec.  21,  1701. 

John,  of  „  Apr.  11,  1703. 

John,  of  „  June    4,  1704. 

William,  of  „  June  15,  1707. 

Sarah,  of  „  May  29,  1709. 

Ruth,  of  „  Dec.  17,  1710. 

Susannah,  of       „  Mar.    9,  1712. 

Joseph,  of  „  May  10,  1713. 

Joseph,  of  „  Aug.    1,  1714. 

Garnock. 

Eben.,  of  Duncan,  Apr.  17,  1692. 

Thomas,  of  Jan.   26,  1695[6 


Gee. 


1680 
1697 
1697 
1706 
1709 
1716 
1725 
1740 
1799 


May  2. 

May  2. 

Apr.  14. 

May  22. 

May  13. 

Apr.  11. 

Apr.  20. 


S. 

Joshua. 

Eliza. 

John. 

Elizabeth. 

Joshua. 

Sarah. 

Sarah. 

Lydia. 


Peter,  of 
Ann,  of 

Samuel,  of  Joshua, 
Joshua,  of        „ 
John,  of  „ 

Ebenezer,  of    „ 
Elizabeth,  of    „ 
John,  of  Elizabeth, 
Peter,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Ann,  of 
Mary,  of  John, 
Mary  (the  minister's 
child), 
Joshua, 
Sarah, 
Elizabeth, 
Margaret, 
Anna, 
John, 
Susannah, 


Mar.  30, 
May  1, 
June  13, 
July  3, 
Mar.  3, 
Dec.  27, 
June  18, 
Mar.  23, 
Dec.  12, 
Jan.  22, 
Mar.  9, 
May  31, 


1690. 

1692. 

1697. 

1698. 

1700. 

1702. 

1704. 

1707. 

1708. 

1709[0 

1712. 

1713. 


May  24,  1724. 
June    6,  1725. 

4,  1726. 

1,  1727. 

4,  1729. 

5,  1734[5 
Aug.  22,  1736. 
Nov.  23,  1740. 


Sejjt 
Oct. 
May 
Jan. 


Gendal. 
John,  of  Jan.     5,  1723[4 

Joseph,  of  Dec.  12,  1725. 


248 


APPENDIX. 


George. 
1690      May     4.         Mary. 
1725      May     2.  Sarah. 

1731      Oct.   31.         Nicholas. 


Abigail,  of  Mary, 
Thomas,  of 
Mary,  of 
Nicholas,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Joshua,  of 


Feb.  16,  1717[8 
Sept.    6,  1719. 
Feb.  U,  1719[0 
Jan.   13,  1722[3 
May  23,  1725. 
Aug.  25,  1728. 


Sarah,  of  Elizabeth,    July    4,1731. 

Gee(e)ish. 
1697      Apr.  25.  Lydia. 

1734      Apr.  29.  John. 


Elizabeth,  of  Lydia,  Nov.    5,  1693. 

John,  of  „  Jan.   26,  1695  [6 

William,  of         „  Jan.     2,  1697[8 

Mary,  of  Marj',  Sept.    5,  1736. 

George,  of  May  13,  1739. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mary,  Aug.  10,  1740. 

Gibson  or  Gypson. 

1650      June    5.  Christopher. 

1662      July     5.  S. 

1695      July  28.  Benjamin. 


Sarah,  of  Mercy,  Sept.  12, 

Rebeckah,  of  Sarah,  Sept.    1, 

Benjamin,  of  Benj.,  Nov.  10, 

William,  of        „  Apr.  12, 

James,  of  „  June  25, 

Mehetabel,  of     „  Aug.  11, 

Samuel,  of  „  Nov.    4, 

Marv,  of  Jan.  30, 

Hannah,  of  Mar.  27, 

William,  of  Sarah,  Apr.  15, 


1697. 

1700. 

1700. 

1702. 

1704. 

1706. 

1711. 

1703[4 

1709. 

1733. 


1G92 


Gilbert. 
Mar.  20.         Lydia. 


Anna,  of  Lydia, 
Lydia,  of      ,, 
Mary,  of       „ 
Thomas,  of 
Samuel,  of  Lydia, 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Anna,  of 


June  12,  1692. 
Aug.  20,  1693. 
May  26,  1695. 
Aug.  29,  1697. 
Feb.  26,  1698[9 
Feb.  7,  1702[3 
July  13,  1707. 


Gill. 
1678      June    2.  Obadiah. 

1710      Aug.  13.  EHzabeth. 

1719      Aug.    2.         Elizabeth. 


Mehetabel,  of  Obad. 

and  Elizabeth,  Jan.      6,  1694[5 

Elizabeth,  of  El.,  June  17,  1694. 

William,  of  Apr.    7,  1695. 

John,  of  Oct.     3,  1697. 

Releef,  of  Releef,  Nov.  14,  1697. 

(of  Charlestown.) 

Scarlet,  of  Apr.  14,  1700. 

Obadiah,  of  Mar.    8,  1702. 

Sarah,  of  Sarah,  Nov.    8,1702. 

Katharine,  of  Feb.  13,  1703[4 

Mary,  of  May     6,  1705. 

Samuel,  of  Aug.  17,  1707. 

Jane,  of  Nov.  25,  1711. 

Glidden. 
Joseph,  of  Jane,  Apr.  13,  1791. 

Goff(e). 

1676[7  Jan.    16.  John 

1697      Aug.  22.  Hanna. 

1706      June    9.  John. 

1709[0  Jan.    22.  Hannah. 

1727  Dec.  24.  Samuel. 

1728  Mar,  10.  William. 


4 


Nathaniel,  of  Feb.  16,  1689[0 

Sara,  of  Obadiah  and 

Elizabeth,  Jan.     4,  1690[1 


Hannah,  of  John, 
Ebenezer,  of     ,, 
Elizabeth,  of    ,, 
Sarah,  of  ,, 

Sarah,  of  „ 

Sarah,  of  „ 

Mary,  of  „ 

John,  of 
Daniel,  C      o 
Rachel,  {  ^fi 
Hannah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Mary,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Hannah,  of 
William,  of  William, 
Joseph,  of 
Abigail,  of 
William,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Hannah,  of  William, 
Rebecca,  of        „ 
Martha,  of  „ 

Nathaniel,  of     „ 
Ebenezer,  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah, 
Abigail,  of  „        „ 
Ebenezer,  of  Samuel, 


Aug.  2 
Feb.  12 
May  5 
Dec.  13 
June  11 
Aug.  21 
Apr.  15 
Mar.  23 

June  13 

Feb.  10 
Aug.  15 
Mar.  19: 
June  29 
Aug.  24 
May  23 
July  31 
Apr.  1 
June  2 
Mar.  8 
Mar.  5 
Mar.  3 
May  29 
Apr.  11 
May  2 
Apr.  1 
Mar.  20 

Apr.  21 
Jan.  25 

Nov.  7 


1691. 

1692[3 

1695. 

1696. 

1699. 

1709. 

1711. 

1701. 

1703. 

1705[6 

1708. 

1710. 

1712. 

1712. 

1714. 

1715. 

1716. 

1717. 

1719. 

1721. 

1723. 

1726. 

1725. 

1731. 

1733. 

1737. 

1728. 

1729[0 

1731. 


APPENDIX. 


249 


Abigail,  of  Samuel 

and  Sarah,  Apr.  15,  1733. 
Mary,  of  Samuel,        Nov.    9,1735. 

Go(u)ld. 
1709[0  Jan.  22.  Experience. 


Thomas,  of  Expe- 
rience, 
Elizabeth,  of        „ 
Bartholomew,  of,, 
Bartholomew,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Benjamin,  of  Sarah, 


Mar.  8,  1696. 

Mar.  8,  1696. 

Apr.  5,  1696. 

May  22,  1698. 

Nov.  17,  1700. 

Mav  25,  1712. 

July  4,  1736. 


Goldsmith. 
1715      Mar.  13.  John. 


Mercy,  of 
Mary,  of 
John,  of  John, 


Jan.    16,  1725[6 
Dec.  31,  1727. 
June    1,  1729. 


GOLDTHWAIT. 

1705[6     Feb.     3.        John. 


Sarah,  of 
John,  of 
Benjamin,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Ezekiel,  of 
Margaret,  of  John, 
Margaret,  of 
Eliza,  of  John, 
Thomas,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Jane,  of  John, 
Hannah,  of  „ 
Mary,  of      „ 


Dec. 

May 

Nov. 

Oct. 

Sept. 

July 

Dec. 

Mav 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Aug. 

Apr. 


21,  1701. 
30,  1703. 

26,  1704. 
13,  1706, 
19,  1708. 
23,  1710. 
16,  1711. 

9,  1714. 
6,  1715. 

19,  1719[ 

27,  1719. 

20,  1720. 
5,  1722. 

12,  1724. 


GOODRIDGE. 

Prior  to  1786.  Sarah. 


Anna,  of  Anna, 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
AValter,  of      „ 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Thomas,  of 
Mary,  of 


Mar.  27,  1698. 
Julv  30,  1699. 
July  13,  1701. 
July  18,  1703. 
Nov.  24,  1706. 
Nov.    2,  1707. 


Katharine,  of  Ann,    Mar.  23,  1712. 

Goodwell(will). 
1691       Oct.     4.  Marv. 

1718      Apr.  13.  Thomas. 


George,  of  Mary,        Oct.   12,1691. 
Thomas,  of    ,,  Oct.    12,  1691. 

32 


Lydia,  of  Thomas,      Nov.    1,  1724. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  Oct.  23,  1726. 


1690 

1690 

1690[1 

1697]8 

1701 

1702 

1708 

1709 

1716 

1727 

1744 


Goodwin(yn)(ing). 
May  25.  John. 


May  25. 
Feb.  21. 
Feb.  6. 
May  11. 
Mav  7. 
Mar.  28. 
Mar.  21. 
Mar.  28. 
Nov.  12. 


Martha. 

Martha. 

John. 

Elizabeth. 

Nathanael. 

Benjamin. 

Hannah. 

Frances. 

Martha. 

Mercy. 


Mercy,  of  John, 
Elizabeth,  of  John 

and  Mar}', 
Nathaniel,  of  Eliza., 
John,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of    John, 
Mary,  of        „ 
Martha,  of     „ 
Margaret,  of  „ 
Abiel,  of        „ 
Thomas,  of  Natha- 
niel, 
Mary,  of 
William,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Abigail,  of 
James,  of  Mary, 
Abigail,  of  Thomas, 
Abigail,  of        „ 
Thomas,  of        ,, 
Kebecca,  of 
liebeccah,  of  Rebec- 
cah, 
Roope,  of  Abigail, 


Mar.     2,  1690. 


Sept. 

Nov, 

July 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Apr. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

July 

Dec. 

May 

May 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Oct. 

July 

Sept. 
Dec. 


9,  1694. 
29,  1696. 
16,  1699. 
19,  1700[1 

9,  1700[1 

26,  1702. 

19,  1703. 
11,  1704[5 
22,  1707[8 

8,  1705. 

20,  1719. 

21,  1721. 

27,  1722. 

28,  1725. 

29,  1726[7 
6,  1730. 

26,  1731. 
28,  1733. 
28,  1734. 

1,  1734. 
24,  1738. 


Geant. 


1688 [9  Feb.  24.  Joanna. 

1691      June  or  July.  Hanna. 


1696  Aug.  23. 
1719  Oct.  25. 
1725  June  27. 
1727[8  Jan.  7. 
1742 


James. 

Dorothy. 

Joseph. 

Joseph. 

Edward. 


James,  of  Joanna, 
Joanna,  of      „ 
Joseph,  of  Hanna, 
John, of 

of 
Samuel,  of 
Judah,  of 


Apr.  7,  1690. 
July  22,  1694. 
June  28,  1691. 
Sept.  24,  1693. 
Jan.  16,  1697[8 
Oct.  14,  1705. 
July  17,  1709. 


250 


APPENDIX. 


Joseph,  of 
Edward,  of 
John,  of 
William,  of 


June  10, 171fi. 
Dee.  13,  1719. 
Sept,  2,  1722. 
Apr.    7,  1728. 


Gray. 
1701      July  27.  Thomas. 

1705      Dec.  23.  Susanna. 

Grecian. 
Ann,  of  Ann,  Mar.    8,1719. 

Greely. 
1781      Dec.     2.  Mary. 


1665 
1666 

1681[2 

1682 

1682 

1682 

1693 

1696 

1700 

1707 

1722 


Green. 
May  14.         Rebeccah. 
Sept.  30.  S. 

(Wife  of  Henry?) 
James. 


25. 
Oct.  29. 
Oct.  29. 
Nov.  12. 
Oct.  11. 
Mar.  10. 
June  22. 
Dec.  22. 


Eliza. 

John. 

Anna. 

Anna. 

Joseph. 

Timothy. 

Mary. 

Joseph. 


Solomon,  of  John 

and  Hannah,  Nov.  16 

James,  of  John,  July  30 

Mary,  of  Bethiah,  Mar.  21 

Bethiah,  of    „  July  27 

Barthol.,  of  Mariah,  July  18 

Mather,  of  Marra,  Jan.   29 

James,  of  June  13 

John,  of  Nov.  26 

Thomas,  of  July  30 

Mary,  of  Joseph,  May     1, 

Joseph,  of       „  June  22 

Sarah,  of         ,,  July    2 

Sarah,  of         „  Apr.     6 

Joanna,  of      „  Oct.   16 

Lydia,  of        „  Apr.  12 

Elizabeth,  of  „  May     8 

Jonas,  of         „  Mar.     1 

Timo.,  of  Timothy,  Dec.  12 

Samuel,  of        „  Apr.  21 

John,  of  „  July  25 

Nathanael,  of  „  Apr.    2 

Jonas,  of  „  Dec.  28 

Elizabeth,  of  Saml.,  Dec.  31 

John,  of  ,,  Dec.  31 

Ann,  of  Abigail 

(Stacy),  Jan.  17, 

Richard,  of  „  Apr.  29 

James,  of     „  Mar.    9 


1690. 

1693. 

1697. 

1707. 

1697. 

1698[9 

1697. 

1699. 

1704. 

1699. 

1701. 

1704. 

1707. 

1709. 

1713, 

1715. 

1719. 

1703. 

1796. 

1708. 

1710. 

1712. 

1704. 

1710. 

1730[1 

1733. 

1735. 


Greenleaf. 
1715      Oct.  30.  Eliza. 


Bickford,  of 

Feb.  17,  1705 [6 

Elizabeth,  of 

June  27,  1708. 

Mercy,  of 

Sept.    2,  1711. 

Simon,  of 

Jan.   22,  17 15  [6 

Sarah,  of 

Aug.    8,  1725. 

Judith,  of 

Mar.    9,  1729. 

Mercy,  of  Judith, 

Mav     3,  1730. 

David,  of        „ 

Nov.  14,  1731. 

Thomas,  of     ,, 

Sept.  23,  1733. 

Sarah,  of         „ 

Aug.    3,  1735. 

Thomas,  of     ,, 

May  29,  1737. 

Greeno 

UGH. 

1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3, 1657 

.s. 

1657       Jan.     3. 

William, 

1665      Jan.  14. 

S. 

1672      Sept.    7. 

William, 

1682                25. 

Eliza. 

1690      Apr.     7, 

Sara, 

1690[1  Feb,  21, 

Mercy, 

1691      Apr.  19. 

Abigail, 

1724      Apr.  12. 

Elizabeth. 

1729      July  27. 

Ransford. 

1778      Feb.     1. 

William. 

1780      May 

John. 

1780      May 

Mehitable. 

Prior  to  1786. 

Hannah. 

Elizabeth,  of  John, 

Nov.  25,  1694. 

Mary,  of             „ 

Aug.  16,  1696. 

"William,  of         „ 

May  29,  1698. 

John,  of               „' 

July  23,  1699. 

William,  of        ,, 

July  13,  1701. 

Elizabeth,  of      „ 

July  11,  1703. 

Abigail,  of          „ 

Aug.  26,  1705. 

Ne-vvman,  of       „ 

May     9,  1708. 

Thomas,  of         „ 

May    7,  1710. 

Jerusha,  of         „ 

Dec.  30,  1711. 

Samuel,  of          ,, 

June  27,  1714. 

Samuel,  of  Eliza, 

Sept.    7,  1735. 

Mary,  of  Ransford, 

Nov.  14,  1736. 

Huldah,  of  Sarah, 

June    5,  1737. 

Daniel,  of  John, 

July  16,  1738. 

Huldah,  of    „ 

Sept.  30,  1739. 

Greenwood. 

1662[3  Jan.  11. 

Eliza. 

1710      Aug.  13. 

Samuel. 

1710      Aug.  13, 

Elizabeth. 

1712      Oct.  26. 

Samuel, 

1722      Dec.  22. 

Isaac. 

Elizabeth,  of 
Nathanael,  of 
Anna,  of 


Apr.  24,  1698. 
Oct.  15,  1699. 
Apr.  7,  1700. 


APPENDIX. 


261 


Isaac,  of  May  17 

Nathaniel,  of  Mar.  23 

Joseph,  of  Samuel 

and  Eliza,  Aug.  20 
Ralph,  of  Phillippa,  Feb.  3 
Samuel,  of        ,,  Feb.     3 

Mary,  of  Feb.     6 

Samuel,  of  Samuel,  May  22 
Benjamin,  of  ,,  June  3 
John,  of  ,,         Dec.  10 

Marv,  „         May     2 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Dec.  24 
William,  of  „  July  30 
Hannah,  of  „  Oct.  5 
Eliza,  of  Eliza,  Aug.  8 
Anna,  of  „  Sept.  18 

Nathaniel,  of  „  June  29 

Nathaniel,  of  ,,  July  18 

Nathan.,  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Eliza,  Sept.    3 
Elizabeth,  of,,  „        Oct.   24 
Miles,  of         ,,  „        Jan.     2 
John  Yentiman,  of 

Nathan,  and  Mary,  ^lar.  1 1 
Samuel,  of  Eliza,        Sept.  13 


1702. 
1707. 

1710. 

1711[2 

1711[2 

1714[5 

1720. 

1722. 

1727. 

1731. 

1732. 

1738. 

1740. 

1725. 

1726. 

1729. 

1731. 

1732. 

1734. 

1736[7 

1739. 
1741. 


Gkibble. 
1715      May     1.  Susanna. 


1693 


Groce,  or  Guoss. 
Mar.  19.  Maria  Katha- 

rina. 


Ebcnezer,  of  Abigail,  Jan.     8,  1737[8 
Joseph,  of  „         Dec.  23,  1739. 

Phillip,  of         „         Mar.  15,  1741. 

Grover. 
1670      June    4.  B. 


Hannah,  of  Martha,  Apr.  20,  1712. 
Dean,  of  Feb.  13,  1714[5 

Gull. 
William,  of  Jan.   19,  1695[6 

GUNNISOX,  or  GUNNESTON. 

Samuel,  of  Lydia,       July  29,  1716. 
Joseph,  of  Feb.    9,  1717[8 

(GUNTER.) 

Sarah,  of  Sarah  Clark,  Aug.  25,  1734. 

G(U)0RDEN,  or  G(u)ORDING. 

1681[2  Eliza. 

1691      June    7.  Abraham. 


Abigail,  of  Abigail,    Aug.  23,  1696. 
Elizabeth,  of  Sarah,   Mar.     5,1699. 

GUTHRY. 

David,  of  Samuel,      Dec.  31,  1721. 


1673 


GUTTRIDGE. 

Nov.    2.  S. 


Gyles. 
Hannah,  of  Martha,  Mar.  21,  1714. 
Martha,  of         „         Mar.  21,  1714. 
William,  of  Mary,      Aug.  20,  1721. 
EUzabeth,  of   „  Nov.  27,  1724. 

Mary,  of  Mar.  31,  1723. 


1691 
1691 
1694 


Hall. 
Mar.  29.         Nathanael. 
Mar.  29.  Ann. 

Mary. 


Elizabeth,  of  Mary,    Dec.     6,1702. 
Jonathan,  of     ,,         Dec.     6,  1702. 


1687 [8  Jan.  1 
1694  Mar.  11 
1705 [6  Feb.  3 
1728 [9  Jan.  12, 


Halsey. 

James. 
Priscilla. 
Jane. 
Abigail. 


James,  of  Hannah, 
Mary,  of        ,, 
Hannah,  of   „ 
Jane,  of  Jane, 
Mary,  of    „ 
Elizabeth,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Nathaniel,  of 
Anna,  of  James, 


Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Dec. 
July 
July 
Nov. 
Aug. 
Sept. 
July 
Nov. 


23,  1700[1 
23,  1700[1 

23,  1700[1 
15,  1702. 
31,  1704. 
27,  1701. 
18,  1703. 

10,  1706. 

24,  1707. 

11,  1709. 
13,  1712. 
15,  1719. 


Hamlin. 

1667      Aug.    8.         S. 


John,  of  Abigail,        Oct.  15,1693. 


Hancock. 
Susannah,  of  Tho.,    Aug.  26,  1716. 

Hannah,  or  Hannan. 
1696[7  Feb.  14.  Martha. 

1700      May  26.         William. 

Martha,  of  Martha,  Mar.    6,1697. 

of  Jan.    15,  1698 [9 

William,  of  Sept.  15,  1700. 

Elizabeth,  of  May  16,  1703. 


252 


APPENDIX. 


Mary,  of  William,  May     3,  1702. 

William,  of    „  Oct.  24,  1703. 

George,  of      „  May  19,  1706. 

Elizabeth,  of  „  July  18,  1708. 

Haratt,  or  Harret(t). 
Sarah,  of  Peter,  Aug.    7,1726. 

Mary,  of       „  Nov.    5,  1727. 

Peter,  of       „  Jan.   17,  1730[1 

Katha.,  of    „  July     1,  1733. 

Katha.,  of    „  Jan.   12,  1734[5 

IIaRLEY,  or  HORLEY. 

Eleanor,  of  Eleanor,  Aug.  17,  1712. 

Robert,  of         „  Aug.  28,  1715. 

Martha,  of  Jan.  23,  1725[6 

Martha,  of  Martha,  May  29,  1726. 

Mary,  of  „  May  29,  1726. 

Joseph,  of  Joseph 

and  Martha,  Sept.    1,  1728. 

Elizabeth,  of  „     „  Sept.  13,  1730. 

Harnden. 
Mary,  of  Mary,  May     4,  1729. 

Samuel,  of  „  Sept.  26,  1731. 


Harris. 


1681 
1682 
1697 
1718 


Sept.  18. 
Oct.  29. 
Apr.  11. 
Dec.  28. 


1785      Mar.  20. 


Hannah. 

Thomas. 

Thomasin. 

Abigail. 

Abigail. 


John,  of  Sarah,  Aug.  20,  1704. 

Mary,  of      „  (?)  Mar.  31,  1706. 

Eliza,  of  Sept.    7,  1707. 

Sarah,  of  Sept.  24,  1710. 

Samuel,  of  Dec.  21,  1712. 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,  July     5,1713. 

Mary,  of  Feb.  27,  1714[5 
Hannah,  of  Saml.(?)  Oct.   10,  1714. 

Lea[c]h,  of      „  (?)  Feb.  17,  1716[7 

Ambrose,  of  Aug.    5,  1716. 

[Roup]  (?),  of  July  13,  1718. 

Mercy,  of  Sept.    6,  1719. 

Harrison. 
Erasmus,  of  Mary.      Oct.  25,  1696. 
William,  of  Mar.  13,  1698. 

Hah(r)od. 
1689      Apr.    7.         Susanna. 
1711  [2  Feb.  24.         John. 
1715      July  10.  Mary. 


Mehetabel,  of  Apr.  27,  1707. 

Snell,  of  Mehet.,         Aug.  21,  1709. 
John,  of  Mar.  15,  1713. 


Benjamin,  of 
Sneil,  of 
Mary,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Hannah,  of 


Jan.    16,  1714[o 
May  20,  1716. 
June    9,  1717. 
May     4,  1718. 
May     1,  1720. 


Hart. 


:  1717  June  9. 
I  1719  Nov.  1. 
j  1721  June  4. 
I  1733  Dec.  30. 
I  1734[5  Jan.  5. 
1772      Sept.  20. 


Michael. 

Lvdia. 

Elias. 

Ralph. 

Lois. 

Elizabeth. 


Lydia,  of  Lydia,  Nov.    8,1719. 

Zephaniah,  of  Ralph,  Dec.     3,1724. 
Mary,  of  „       Aug.    7,  1726. 

Abigail,  of  „       Dec.  10,  1727. 

Rebeckah,  of      „       Apr.  27,  1729. 
Samuel,  of  „       Dec.  20,  1730. 


Hassey. 

1701      May  11. 

Martha. 

1703      Oct.   17. 

AViUiam. 

1714      Oct.   10. 

Asa. 

Judith,  of  William, 

Dec.     8,  1689. 

Nathanael,  of   „ 

Apr.  24,  1692. 

William,  of 

Oct.  24,  170:;. 

John,  of             ,, 

July  23,  1710. 

Abiel,  of 

Oct.   20,  1695. 

Nathanael,  of 

Oct.  21,  1705. 

Jacob,  of 

Aug.  28,  1709. 

Jacob,  of 

July     6,  1712. 

Samuel,  of 

Sept.  27,  1713. 

Hannah,  of 

Oct.  21,  1716. 

Sarah,  of  Jacob, 

Nov.    3,  1706. 

Jacob,  of      „ 

May     9,  1708. 

Hayward. 

1677      Apr.  20. 

S.  Silence. 

1689      Mar.  10. 

Margarit. 

Hely',  or 

Haly. 

1709      Mar.  21. 

Rebecka. 

1712      June  29. 

Sarah. 

Martha,  of  Martha, 

June  22,  1690. 

Mary,  of  Mary, 

June    7,  1696. 

Sarah,  of     „ 

June    7,  1696. 

William,  of,, 

July    5,  1696. 

Mary,  of 

May  30,  1708. 

Katharine,  of 

Feb.    4,  1710[1 

Katharine,  of 

Feb.  15,  1712[3 

Samuel,  of 

Sept.  11,  1715. 

HeL(l)YER,  or  HiLLlER. 

1709      May  22. 

John. 

APPENDIX. 


253 


1740      Nov.  30. 
17-il      July  19. 


Jonathan. 
Experience. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliza, 
John,  of  John, 
Experience,  of 
Jonathan,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Elizabeth,  of  John, 
Thomas,  of 
Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Mary,  of         ,, 
of  John, 


Mar.  29, 
Dec.  12, 
Dec.  30, 
Apr. 
Aug 
Oct, 
Oct.  16, 
Nov.  20, 
Nov.  24, 
Jan.  10, 
Mar.  30, 


26, 

,26, 

11, 


1713. 

1714. 

1716. 

1719. 

1722. 

1724. 

1726. 

1726. 

1728. 

1730[1 

1729. 


Henchman. 
1690      Apr.  14.  Abigail. 

1694 [5  Feb.  17.  Richard. 

1700      June  16.  Esther. 

1710      Apr.  23.  Dorothy. 


Samuel,  of  Abigail,    Feb.     7,  1691[2 
Margaret,  of      „         Jan.     7,  1693[4 
Abigail,  of        „         Jan.     6,  1694[5 
Nathaniel,  of  Nathl.,  Apr.     7,  1695. 
Mary,  of  „         Apr.  18,  1697. 

Nathanael,  of   „         Nov.    5,  1699. 

Henckley. 
George,  of  Meheta.,  July  10,  1720. 

Henderson. 
1693      May  or  June.  John. 
Prior  to  1786.  Benjamin. 

„      „      „  Mary. 

..      »      >•  Sarah. 


Agnes,  of        John,  May  13,  1694. 

Mary,^'}*^^"''°^»    ^^""^     3'  l^^^' 
Margaret,  of  „    Jan.   21,  1699. 


Hendry. 


Ann,  of  Ann, 
Thomas,  of 
Ann,  of 
Sophia,  of 
Daniel,  of  Ann, 


May  6,  1711. 
Dec.  21,  1712. 
Nov.  7,  1714. 
Aug.  19,  1716. 
Nov.    9,  1718. 


Henley. 
Thomas,  of  Eleanor,  Sept.  15,  1717. 

Henning. 
1729      Nov.    9.         Mary. 

Henykes. 
Richard,  of  S.  Nov.  27,  1720. 

Mary,  of        „  Nov.  27,  1720. 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Nov.  27,  1720. 


Herman,  or  Hermon. 
1677      Apr.  or  May.  S. 
1689      Oct.  27.  Samuel. 


Samuel,  of  Samuel,    Sept.  18,  1692. 
Sarah,  of         „  Aug.    2,  1696. 

Hett. 
1677[8     Jan.   20.        S. 

Hewen. 
1699      Nov.  19.  Mercy. 

Hewins. 
1683      July  29.  Martha. 

HlBBINS,  or  HiBBONS. 

1725      June  27.  Marv. 


Elizabeth,  of 


1788 
1790 


1747 


Dec.  22,  1717. 

Highborn. 

Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth,  jun. 

Hicks. 

Zechariah. 
(from  Lynn.) 


HiLIARD. 

1684  [5  Jan.    18.  Lvdia. 

1689      Oct.     6.  Job. 

Hill. 
1691      Dec.  20.  Rebecka. 

1697      June  13.  Joseph. 

1718      Aug.  24.  Mary. 

1727[8  Feb.  11.  James. 


Mary,  of  Robeckah,  Dec.  27,  1691. 

Samuel,  of      „  Mar.  27,  1692. 

Rebecka,  of     „  Apr.  22,  1694. 

Hannah,  of  Sept.  16,  1694, 

John,  of  Henry,  Jan.     9,  1697[8 

John,  of      „  Aug.  11,  1700. 

Thomas,  of  „  June  18,  1704. 
Abr'm,,  of  Abraham,  Oct.  13,1700, 

James,  of  Apr,  16,  1710, 

Joshua,  of  Oct,  28,  1711. 

Joseph,  of  Apr.  18,  1714. 
Abraham,  of  Abigail 

(Halsey),  May  14,  1732. 

Nathl.,  of      „       „  Dec.     9,  1733. 

Nathl.,  of      „       „  Apr.    4,  1736. 

Joseph,  of     „       „  Aug.  28,  1737. 

Elizabeth,  of,,       „  July  15,  1739. 

Abigail,  of    „       „  Dec.  14,  1740. 

Esther,  of  James,  Mar.    3,  1734. 

Turner,  of      „  Feb.  29,  1735[6 


254 


APPENDIX. 


Elizabeth,  of  James,  Apr.  30,  1738. 
Mary,  of  „       Apr.  12,  1741. 

IIlLTOX. 

1G98      Apr.     3.  Mary. 

HiNKS. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,    Aug.    5,1711. 
James,  of  Sept.  16,  1711. 


1709 


Hippy. 
May  22.  William. 


Hitchcock. 
1735      Apr.  27.  Jacob. 

Hobbie(y.) 
1688  [9  Feb.  24.  Hamiah. 

1692[3  Jan.    15.  Ann. 

1723      Mar.  31.  Charles. 

1726      Mar.     6.  Wenslcy. 

1729      Mar.     9.  William. 


John,  of  Ann, 
William,  of  „ 
Richard,  of  „ 
Charles,  of  ,, 
Edward,  of  „ 
Winslej',  of ,, 
William,  of  „ 
Edward,  of  „ 
Ann,  of       „ 
William,  of,, 
Rachel,  of  Wensley 
and  Rachel, 
John,  of        ,,       ,, 
Wensley,  of  „       ,, 
Rachel,  of     ,,       ,, 
Ann,  of         ,,       „ 


July  9, 
Nov.  15, 
Feb.  20, 
Apr.  9, 
July  13, 
Sept.  30, 
Aug.  17, 
Jan.  16, 
Apr.  1, 
Mar.  24, 


1693. 

1696. 

1697[8 

1699. 

1701. 

1705. 

1707. 

1708[9 

1711. 

1706. 


Apr.  8,  1733. 
Apr.  2,  1734. 
Sept.  28,  1735. 
Aug.  28,  1737. 
Oct.     1,  1738. 


HOBBS. 

1724      Apr.  12.  Esther. 

1724[5  Jan.   17.  Josiah. 


Sarah,  of  Esther,        May  10,  1724. 
Dorcas,  of  Josiah 

and  Esther,  May  8,  1726. 

Hannah,  of  Josias,     Jan.  5,  1728[9 

Hodges. 
1696      Nov.    8,         Samuel. 

Hodgden,  or  HoDGDON,  or  Hodsden. 
1710      Mar.  19.  Susanna. 

1728      Apr.  28.  Nathanael. 


Tabitha,  of  Nathl.,     Jan.   10,  1702[3 
Joseph,  of        „  June  11,  1704. 

Susannah,  of  „  July  15,  1705. 


Patience,  of  Nathl.,  Sept.    1, 

Elizabeth,  of    ,,  July    4, 

Mary,  Jan.    21, 

Ann,  of  Nathaniel,  Oct.     3, 

Mary,  of         ,,  Nov.  25, 

Tabitha,  of     ,,  Nov.    2, 
Ann,  of  Nathaniel 

and  Ann,  Mar.     6, 

Tabitha,  of  Nathl.,  June  17, 


1706. 

1708. 

1710[1 

1731. 

1733. 

1735. 

1737. 
1739. 


1768 


1666 

1677 
1700 
1725 
1725 


Hodgkins. 
Dec.    4.         Lydea. 

Holland. 
Apr.  29,  S. 

[Wife  of  Christopher.]  (.') 
Apr.  13.  Bridget. 


Dec.  15. 

Mar.  28. 

Apr.  4. 

1727[8  Feb.  4. 


Christopher. 
Sarah. 
Susanna. 
Susanna. 


Elizab.,  of  Elizabeth,  Jan.  30,  1703[4 

John,  of  Susanna,  Jan.   30,  1708[9 

Susannah,  of  „  June    4,1710. 

Thomas,  of     „  Sept.  30,  1711. 

Josiah,  of        „  Mar.  22,  1713. 

Christoph.,of ,,  Jan.     9,  1714[5 

Hannah,  of    „  Feb.    3,  1716[7 

Sarah,  of         „  Feb.     1,  1718[9 

Mary,  of  „  Jan.  22,  1720[1 

HOLLOWAT. 

Sarah,  of  Ann,  May     8,  1690. 

Ward,  of       „  Aug.    6,  1693. 

Ebenezer,  of  ,,  Nov.  17,  1695. 

Ho(l)mes. 
1680      Nov.    7.  Samuel. 

1688      Dec.     2.  Margaret. 

1714      Mar.  14.  Robert. 


Rebec,  of  Rebeckah,  Mar.    3,1695. 

Francis,  of         „  Mar.  22,  1696. 

John,  of  „  Nov.    7,  1697. 

Ann,  of  „  July    9,  1699. 

Rebeckah,  of     „  Dec.  22,  1700. 

Isaac,  of  „  Jan.     3,  1702[3 

Ebenezer,  of      „  Nov.  12,  1704. 

Nathanael,  of    „  Nov.    4,  1705. 

Ann,  of  Apr.  13,  1707. 

William,  of  Robert,  Jan.  13,  1716[7 

Abiah,  of  „  Dec.  14,  1718. 

HOLYOKE. 

Edward,  of  Jacob,      Dec.  23,  1733. 

Hood. 
1700      Sept.  15.         Judith. 


APPENDIX. 


255 


Elizabeth,  of  Judith,  Sept. 


Mary,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Mary,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Ann,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Cumby,  of 
Margaret,  of 


Feb. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
July 
Dec. 
Mar. 
Nov. 
Sept. 
Dec. 


29,  1700. 
2'2,  1701[2 
22,  1701[2 
11,  1705. 
27.  1707. 
2.5,  1709. 

8,  1713. 
6,  171o. 
I,  1717. 

30,  1722. 


Hopkins. 


1694 

1694 

1695      Mar.  17. 

1706      Aug.  11. 

1740[1  Feb.  15. 

1770      Dec.  30. 


Elizabeth. 

Mary. 

Mehetabel. 

Hannah. 

Abigail. 

Marv. 


Sara,  of  July  30,  1693. 

Mehetable,  of  Mar.    4,  1694. 

Benjamin,  of  above.  Mar.    4,1604. 


John,  of 
Joseph,  of 
John,  of  Sus. 
Phebe,  of 
Abigail,  of 


July  20,  1695. 
Aug.  4,  1700. 
Mar.  12,  1721. 
Sept.  9,  1722. 
Jan.    12,  1723[4 


Hough. 
1691      June  or  July.  William. 
1691      June  or  July.  MarJ^ 
1718      Apr.    6.  Ebenezer. 

1727[8  Feb.  11.         Hannah. 


Joseph,  of  William 

and  Mary,  July 

12, 

Abigail,  of      „    „      Feb. 

11, 

William,  of  William,  Feb. 

9, 

Lydia,  of             „       Feb. 

6, 

Ebenezer,  of       ,,       Feb. 

11, 

Ebenez.,  of  Ebenez.,  June 

28, 

Hannah,  of        „        Dec. 

26, 

Sarah,  of            ,,        June 

18, 

Mary,  of  Ebenezer 

and  Hannah,  June 

0, 

1691. 

1693[4 

1695 [6 

1697[8 

1699[0 

1724. 

1725. 

1727. 

1728. 


How. 
1665      May  14.  S.   - 

1727      Dec.  24.         Mary. 
1730      May    3.         Mary. 


John,  of  Abigail, 
Abigail,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Mary,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Joseph,  of 
James,  of 


Nov.  10,  1706. 
Sept.  12,  1708. 
Oct.  29,  1710. 
Apr.  1,  1711. 
May  25,  1712. 
Oct.  25,  1713. 
Dec.  27,  1713. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Abigail,  of 


Jan.     9,  1714[5 
Nov.    6,  1715. 


Howard. 


1678  Nov.  3. 
1682[3  Jan.  28. 
1704  May  28. 
1704  May  28. 
17 27  [8  Jan.  7, 
1727 [8  Feb.  4. 
1727[8  Feb.  4. 
1790 
1797 


S. 

Kobert. 

]\Iary. 

Abigail. 

^lary. 

B. 

Judith. 

Lucy. 

Martha. 


Mary,  of  Mary, 
James,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Mary,  of 
James,  of 
James,  of 
Amos,    )    f 
Judith,  5  °^ 
Amos,  of  above, 
Judith,  of    „ 
Enoch,  of     ,, 
Benjamin,  of 
Ebenezer,  of  Amos 
and  Judith, 
Nathaniel,  of  „  ,, 
Elizabeth,  of  „  „ 
Thomas,  of      „  „ 


June  4,  1704. 
Nov.  16,  1707. 
Aug.  7,  1709. 
Dec.  24,  1710. 
Aug.  15,  1714. 
Mar.    4,  1716. 

Feb.     4,  1727[8 

Feb.     4,  1727[8 
Feb.     4.  1727[8 
Mar.     3,  1728. 
July  21,  1728. 

Oct.  18,  1730. 
June  24,  1733. 
Nov.  23,  1735. 
May     1,  1737. 


1737 


Howel(l). 
Sept.  11.  Mary. 


Phillip,  of 
Newberry,  of 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
Phillip,  of  „ 


Feb.  28,  1713[4 
Sept.  29,  1717. 
Oct.   15,  1737. 
Oct.    14,  1739. 


Hubbard. 
Richard,  of  Eliz.,        Apr.  16,  1699. 


Hudson. 


1672 
1677 
1695 
1700 
1701 
1726 


Oct.  20. 
May  18. 
June  9. 
July  21. 
Apr.  6. 
May  29. 


Francis. 

S. 

William. 

Abigail. 

Francis. 

John. 


Samuel,  of 
Mary,  of  Francis, 

Mercy,  of  „ 

Mary,  of  ,, 

John,  of  „ 

Abigail,  of  „ 

Elizabeth,  of  ,, 

William,  of  „ 


Apr.  17,  1692. 
June  1,  1701. 
Aug.  22,  1703. 
Dec.  7,  1707. 
Sept.  18,  1709. 
Dec.  30,  1711. 
Sept.  12,  1714. 
Aug.  12,  1716. 


256 


APPENDIX. 


Martha,  of  Francis,   Oct.     6,  1717. 
Elizabeth,  „         Mar.  29,  1719. 

Hughes. 
1691      Nov.    1.  Elizabeth. 

1769       Oct.  22.  Rosannah. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliza.,  Mar.  31,  1695. 

Hull. 
1673      Nov.    2.  S. 

HUMNEY. 

Joseph,  of  Jan.   26,  1723[4 

HUNLOCK. 

1695      June  30.         Mai-v. 


Hunt. 


1675  Aug.  8. 
1680  Nov.  7. 
1689  Apr.  7. 
1716[7  Feb.  17. 
1717  Sept.  1. 
1720  Dec.  18. 
1733  Oct.  14. 
1737  Mar.  6. 
Prior  to  1786. 


S. 

Thomas. 

Mehetabel. 

Ebenezer. 

Samuel. 

Mary. 

Benjamin. 

John. 

Ephraim. 


Samuel,  of  Feb.     9^ 

of  Thomas,  Aug.  28 

Ebenezer,  of      „  Oct.   13 

Sarah,  of  Aug.  30: 

Thomas,  of  Aug.  ]  3 

Ephraim,  of  Dec.  16 

Judith,  of  Jan.     4 

Palsgrave,  of  Feb.  25 

Rebeckah,  of  John,  Mar.  23 

Ann,  of  „  May     3 

Joanna,  of  Oct.   19 

Mary,  of  Jan.   25 

Samuel,  of  July  31 

John,  of  Nov.  25 

Mary,  of  Samuel,  Oct.  26 

Samuel,  of      „  Jan.   22 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Aug.  26 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Sept.  27 

Samuel,  of      ,,  June  11 
Ephraim,  of  Samuel 

and  Mary,  June  23 

Sarah,  of  Samuel,  July  25 

Rebecka,  of    ,,  Sept.    5 

Mary,  of  John,  Jan.  27 

Hunting. 

1725      May  23.  Mary. 


1689[0 

1692. 

1695. 

1702. 

1704. 

1705. 

1707[8 

1710[1 

1712. 

1713. 

1712. 

1712[3 

1715. 

1716. 

1718, 

1720[1 

1722. 

1724. 

1727. 

1728. 
1731. 
1736. 
1739[0 


Joseph,  of 
Mary,  of 
Mary,  of 
Samuel,  of 
John,  of 
Nathl.,  of  Mary, 
Jonathan,  of  „ 
Lydia, 
Mercy, 
William,  of  Mary, 
Hannah,  of 


twins  of 


Sept.  1,  1700. 
June  16,  1717. 
June  29,  1718. 
Oct.  22,  1721. 
June  26,  1726. 
Oct.  6,  1728. 
Sept.  20,  1730. 

Sept.  3,  1732. 

Mar.  23,  1735. 
Sept.  18,  1737. 


HUKST. 


Samuel,  of 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
Samuel,  of 
Mehetabel,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Mehetabel,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Samuel,  of  Eliza, 
John, of         „ 
William,  of  ,, 


Feb. 

ISIay 

July 

Aug. 

July 

May 

Jan. 

June 

Apr. 

Apr. 

Feb. 


1703[4 

1706. 

1707. 

1707. 

1708. 

1709. 

1710[1 

1712. 

1735. 

1735. 

1736[7 


1655 

1691 
1700 
1706 
1706 
1707 
1717 
1717 
1727 
1727 
1732 
1770 


Hutchinson. 
Nov.  9  to 
June  3, 1657.  S. 
July  to  Sept.  Elizabeth. 


May 

Mar.     3. 

Mar.     3. 

June  22. 
[8  Feb.  9. 
[8  Feb.  9. 
[8  Jan.  7. 
[8  Jan.     7. 

Dec.  10. 

Dec.     3. 


Edward. 

Thomas. 

Sarah. 

Lydia. 

Benjamin. 

Ann. 

Sarah. 

Abigail. 

Hannah. 

Mary. 


Mary,  of  June    5,  1698. 

(of  Charlestown.) 


Foster,  of  Sarah, 
Sarah,  of  Thomas 

and  Sarah, 
Abigail,  of  ,.  „ 
Thomas,  of  „  „ 
Hannah,  of  ,,  ,, 
Elisha,  of  „  „ 
Lydia,  of  ,,  „ 
Hawkins,  of  „  „ 
Elizabeth,  of  „  ,, 
Foster,  of  ,,  „ 
Edward,  of  „  „ 
Elisha,  of  Edward 

and  Lydia, 
Lydia,  of 
John,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Lydia,  of 
Edward,  of 


Sept.  24,  1704. 


Apr.  4, 
Aug,  7, 
Sept.  16, 
Nov.  7, 
Feb.  12, 
June  2. 
Feb.  19, 
May  19, 
Sept.  13, 
Mar.  27, 


1708. 

1709. 

1711. 

1714. 

1715[6 

1717. 

1720[1 

1723. 

1724. 

1726. 


Feb.  20,  1708  [9 
Julv  30,  1710. 
Sept.  30,  1711. 
May  24,  1713. 
Oct.  3,  1714. 
Jan.  29,  1715[6 


APPENDIX. 


257 


Elizabeth,  of  Edward 

and  Lvdia,  Mar.  10,  1717. 
Mary,  of  Edward,  Aug.  24,  1718. 
Sarah,  of       „  May  13,  1722. 

Lydia,  of  Edward 

and  Lvdia,  Feb.     2,  1723[4 
Edward,  of  „    '  „     Dec.  21,  1729. 
Elizabeth,  of  „       „     Dec.     5,1731. 

HUTTON. 

William,  of  Ann,        Feb.  11,  1710[1- 
Ann,  of  May  23,  1714. 

Ingeldsbt,  or  Ingoldsby. 
1689      Dec.     1.  Ruhamah. 


Thomas,  of  Ruhama,  1691. 

Ruhamah,  of     „         May  20,  1694. 

Ingerson,  or  Ingerstone. 
1709      May  22.  George. 

Prior  to  1786.  Abraham. 

1772      June.  Abraham. 


George,  of  George,    May  29,  1709. 
Abraham,  of  (dead),  July  29,  1711. 

Ingols. 
1713      Sept.  20.  Anna. 


Hannah,  of  Hannah,  July  18,  1708. 
James,  of  Apr.  22,  1711. 

Rebeckah,  of  Jan.   25,  1712[3 

Robert,  of  July  17,  1715. 


Ingerham,  or  Ingram. 

Joseph,  of  Joseph,  July  11, 

Francis,  of  May  13, 

Mary,  of  Aug.  18, 

Elizabeth,  of  Oct.     5, 

Hannah,  of  Oct.  23, 

Lydia,  of  Nov.  11, 

Elizabeth,  of  June    6, 

Duncan,  of  Joseph,  Jan.   29, 

Mackfarland,  of ,,  July     7, 

John,  of  Sept.  21, 

Sarah,  of  Joseph,  Oct.  18, 

Rebecca,  of  „  Oct.  15, 

John,  of  Sept.    1, 


1714. 

1716. 

1717. 

1718. 

1720. 

1722. 

1725. 

1726[7 

1728. 

1729. 

1730. 

1732. 

1734, 


1693 


Ireland. 
Mav  or  June.  Grace. 


Grace,  of  Grace,         Jan.   15,  1692[3 
Mary,  of      „  Mar.    8,  1696. 

Nathaniel,  of  July  17,  1698. 

Ivory. 
1771      Sept.  Sarah. 

33 


Jackson. 
1681  Eliza. 

1702      Feb.  21.  Mary. 

1733      Oct.  28.         Susanna. 


Jonathan,  of  May    4,  1701. 

Mary,  of  Apr.     4,  1703. 

Daniel,  of  Apr.  20,  1707. 

Sarah,  of  Feb.  17,  1716[7 

of  Susannah,  Sept.  29,  1728. 

John,  of  „  Aug.  22,  1731. 

George,  of       „  June    5,  1737. 

Timothy,  of    „  Dec.  31,  1738. 

Joseph,  of        „  Jan.     4,  1740[1 

Jacob(s). 

Thomas,  of  Mary,  June    7,1606. 

James,  of        „  '  Mar.  13,  1698. 

Marv,  of  „  Feb.  18,  1699[0 

of         „  May  23,  1703. 


1725 


Jag(g)er. 
May    9.         Mary. 


Lydia,  of 
Susannah,  of 


Abigail,  of 
Sarah,  of 


June    8,  1712. 
May     7,  1716. 

Jamdson. 

May  21,  1710. 
Oct.  14,  1711. 


Jarvis. 


1664  Dec.  11. 
1690  May  25. 
1701  [2  Feb.  9. 
1710  Aug.  13. 
1725  May  30. 
1727  Dec.  10. 
Prior  to  1786. 


S. 

Margaret. 

Mary. 

Margaret. 

Mary. 

Abigail. 

Mary. 

Thomas. 


Elias,  of  Margaret, 
Margaret,  of  „ 
Nathanael,  of  Eliz., 
Elizabeth,  of 
William,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
John,  of  Mary, 
Abigail,  of  Abigail, 
Elizabeth,  of    ,, 
Mere}',  of         „ 
Nathaniel,  of  „ 
Thomas,  of      ,, 


Nov. 
Mar. 
Nov. 
July 
Aug. 
Dec. 
Mar. 
Mar. 
Nov. 
Apr. 
Dec. 
May 


5,  1693. 
27,  1692. 
12,  1693. 
26,  1696. 
21,  1698. 
14,  1701. 
18,  1716. 
29,  1724. 
20,  1726. 
20,  1729. 
26,  1731. 
12,  1734. 


Jeffries. 
1714[5  Jan.  23.   Sarah. 


John,  of 
William,  of 


Mar.  27,  1709. 
May  4,  1712. 


258 


APPENDIX. 


Jenkins. 
1673      Dec.     6.  B. 


John,  of  Mary, 

Mar.  20, 

1698. 

David,  of    „ 

Mar.  20, 

1698. 

Mary,  of 

July     6, 

1701. 

Abigail,  of  Mary, 

Sep't.  18, 

1709. 

Mary,  of 

Apr.  27, 

1712. 

Thomas,  of 

Dec.  26, 

1714. 

John,  of  Sarah, 

Apr.  15, 

1716. 

Mary,  of    „ 

Mar.    8, 

1719. 

Peter,  of 

June  30, 

1717. 

Mary,  of 

July     5, 

1719. 

David,  of 

Feb.  12, 

1720[1 

Matthew,  of 

May     7, 

1721. 

Jenn 

ER. 

168o[6     Jan.   17. 

David. 

Elizabeth,  of  David,  Aug.    2,  1696. 
David,  of  „        July    9,  1699. 

Jennings. 
1690      May  12.         Ann. 

Jepson. 
1732 [3     Jan.  7.  Sarah. 


1689 


Jewel,  or  Juel. 
June  23.  Eleanor. 


Mary,  of  Mary, 

Nov.  11,  1705 

Joseph,  of 

Sept.    5,  1708 

Jinks. 

1682      Oct.  29. 

Richard. 

Johnson. 

1685      Dec.  27. 

Elizabeth. 

1691[2  Feb.  14. 

Christian. 

1700      Apr.  21. 

Stephen. 

1704      Oct.  15. 

Mary. 

1726      Apr.    3. 

Mercy. 

1729      June  22.  Mary. 

1734      Sept.    1.  Thomas. 


Ruth,  of  May    8,  1692. 

Thomas,  of  Zechary,  July  17,  1692. 
John,  of  Rebecka,      Feb.  26,  1692[3 
Mary,  of  Mar.  21,  1703. 

Nathaniel,  of  Ste- 
phen and  Mary,  Mar.  21,  1703. 


JOLES. 

1682 

Oct.  29.         Hannah 

Jones. 

1663 

Nov.  15.         S. 

1695 

June    9.          James. 

1708 

Nov.  21.          Samuel. 

1710 

Nov.    5.         Mary. 

James,  of  Susanna,  Dec. 

Anna,  of  „  May 

Mercy,  of         ,,  May 

Sarah,  of  „  June 

Mary,  of  ,,  May 

Ebenezer,  of    ,,  Nov. 
Rebecka,  of  Thomas,  Jan. 


Samuel,  of 
Bethiah,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Phillip,  of  Ann, 
Abigail,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Thomas,  of 


Sept. 
May 
Sept, 
July 
Oct. 
July 
Au2, 


28, 

1, 

6, 

14, 

19, 

14, 

27, 

30, 

23, 

2, 

28, 

11, 

16, 

•25, 


1690. 

1692. 

1694. 

1696. 

1700. 

1703. 

1711[2 

1711. 

1714. 

1716. 

1717. 

1719. 

1721. 

1723. 


Kamlin. 
1691      June  or  July.  Agnes. 

Karr. 

1673      Nov.    9.         S. 

Keach. 
1681  [2     Jan.  8.  John. 

1691        July  to  Sept.  Abigail. 

Kellond. 
1675      Apr,    4.  S. 

1717[8  Feb.  16.         Mary. 

Kel(l)y. 
1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3, 1657.  S. 
1683      Apr.  15.  Emm. 

1690      Apr.  14.  Martha. 

1708[9  Feb.  27.         Elizabeth. 


^™^-'  J  twins  of  E.,  Apr.  16,  1693. 

Kembe. 
1714      July  11.         Elizabeth. 


1660[1  Jan.  6. 
1681  Sept.  18. 
1708  Sept.  5. 
1710  Oct.  1. 
1713      Mar.  15. 


Kemble. 
S. 

Elizabeth. 
Richard. 
Jonathan. 
Ebenezer. 


Katharine,  of  K., 
Elizabeth,  of  L., 
Hannah,  of      „ 
Joseph,  of        „ 
Christo.,  of  Sarah, 
Mary,  of        „ 


July  23,  1699. 
May  17,  1702. 
May  17,  1702. 
May  17,  1702. 
Sept.  6,  1702. 
May  30,  1703. 


APPENDIX. 


259 


Abigail,  of  Sarah,  Jan.   30,  1703[4 
Thos.,  of  Katharine,  May  30,  1703. 

Daniel,  of        „  Feb.  16,  1706[7 

Mary,  of  „  Aug.    7,  1709. 

Jona.,  of  Jonathan,  Oct.  15,  1710. 

Samuel,  of    „  Apr.     5,  1713. 

John,  of  Richard,  Nov.  12,1710. 
Elizab.,  of  Ebenezer,  Mar.  22,  1713. 

Elizabeth,  of    „  Aug.  12,  1716. 

Hannah,  of  Dec.  14,  1712. 

Dorothy,  of  Sept.  26,  1714. 

Hannah,  of  Dec.     5,  1714. 

Hannah,  of  Dec.  12,  1714. 

Mary,  of  May     4,  1718. 

Kennet. 
1689      Aug.  18.         Susanna. 

Kenn(e)y. 
1685  1.         Robert. 

1705 [6  Feb.  17.  Nathaniel. 

1707      Dec,  28.  Margaret. 

1716      July    8.  John. 


Nathl.,  of  Nathaniel,  May     8,1709. 
Edward,  of      „  Mar.    2,  1712. 

Kent. 
1701      May    4.         Joshua. 
1725      Aug.  22.  Margaret. 

1790  Mary. 


Joshua,  of  Joshua,  Sept.  15,  1700. 

John,  of         „  Sept.  15,  1700. 

Agnes,  of      „  Sept.  27,  1702. 

Sarah,  of  June    2,  1723. 

Richard,  of  Sarah,  Aug.  21,  1726. 

Winiam,  of      „  July  14,  1728. 

Mary,  of           „  July  19,  1730. 

Mary,  of           „  Nov.  21,  1731. 

John,  of           „  Mar.  31,  1734. 

Nathaniel,  of  „  Apr.    8,  1739. 

Edward,  of  Mar.  22,  1730. 

Nathaniel,  of  Aug.  29,  1736. 
Elizab.,  of  Margaret,  Apr.  30,  1732. 

John,  of            „  Nov.  27,  1737. 

Kerbt. 
Richard,  of  Sarah,     Mar.  13,  1715. 

Kettle. 
1715      May  29.         Mary. 
1773      Oct.  Joseph. 

Key(es). 
Jonathan,  of  Rachel,  Oct.     2,1709. 
Rachel,  of  „      Mar.  21,  1714. 

Bethia,  of  „      Aug.  17,  1718; 


1670 
1682 


Keyn(e'). 

S. 

Apr.    9.         S. 


Kidder. 
Stei^hen,  of  Stephen,  Oct.  31,  1697. 

(of  Ciiarlestown.) 
Thomas,  of  Sept.    1,  1700. 


1791 


KiMBAL. 

Abigail. 


John,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
M  ary,  of  Mary, 
William,  of 
Nathanael,  of 
Richard,  of 
Lydia,  of 
Peter,  of 


King. 


Jan. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Sept. 

Feb. 

Oct. 

Jan. 

Feb. 


Nathanael,  of  Mary,  Feb. 


6,  1705[6 

19,  1706[7 

20,  1708[9 
4,  1709. 

18,  1710[1 
28,  1711. 
24,  1713[4 
23,  1717[8 
12,  1737[8 


Kingston(e). 
1721[2     Feb.  11.        Martha. 


Elias,  of  Martha,  July  20,  1712. 

Martha,  of    „  June  24,  1716. 

WiUiam,  of  Jan.     3,  1719[0 

Mary,  of  Martha,  Dec.  11,  1720. 

Mary,  of  Dec.     8,  1723. 

William,  of  Martha,  Sept.    4,  1726. 

John,  of  „  Mar.  16,  1729. 

Knight. 
1715[6  Feb.  12.  Samuel. 

1718      Mar.  16.  Ebenezer. 


Mehetabel,  of  July  25,  1714. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mar.  31,  1717. 

Elizabeth,  of  Aug.  18,  1717. 

Sarah,  of  Nov.  23,  1718. 

Samuel,  of  Samuel,  Aug.  28,  1720. 

Lake. 
1655      Nov.  9  to 

Junes,  1657.  S. 
1670  or  1671.  Thomas. 

Lambert. 
1725      Apr.    4.         Mary. 
1725      Aug.  22.         Jonathan. 


John,  of 
Jonathan,  of 
Mary,  of 
Jonathan,  of 


Nov.  1,  1719. 
June  10,  1722. 
Sept.  13,  1724. 
June  6,  1725. 
Benjamin,  of  Jona. 

and  Mary,  Nov.  13,  1726. 


260 


APPENDIX. 


Elizabeth,  of  Jona- 
than and  Mary,  July    5,  1730. 
Elizabeth,  of  Aug.  25,  1728. 

Thomas,  of  Feb.     1,  1735[6 


1673 


Lambshead. 
Apr.    6.  S. 


Lane. 
1655      Nov.  9,  to 

June  3, 1657.  B. 
1681      Mar.    1,  William. 

1681      May  29.  S. 

Langdon. 
1705      Nov.    4.  John. 

1718      Apr.    6.  Edward. 


Ephralm,  of 

Jan.   26, 

1689[0 

Mary,  of  John, 

Nov.  15, 

1691. 

Joanna,  of  J., 

Oct.   22, 

1693. 

Nathaniel,  of 

Sept.  14, 

1695. 

Margaret,  of 

Aug.  29. 

1697. 

Edward,  of  John, 

Oct.  23, 

1698. 

John,  of  Edward, 

Jan.    20, 

1722[3 

Edward,  of    ,, 

June  14, 

1724. 

Susanna,  of  Edwarc 

and  Susan, 

May     7, 

1727. 

Timothy,  of  Edward 

Feb.  18, 

1732[3 

Langley. 

Elizabeth,  of 

July  10, 

1698. 

(of  Charlestown.) 

Larrabeb. 

1713      Sept.  20. 

William 

1739      Dec.    2. 

Samuel. 

Stephen,  of  Dec.  13,  1719. 

Lydia,  of  Jan.    13,  1722[3 

James,  of  William,  May     2,  1725. 

Benjamin,  of    „  Aug.    7,  1726. 

Abigail,  of        „  Mar.  31,  1728. 

Laryford. 
1693[4  Jan.  21.         Sara. 

Elizabeth,  of  Sarah,  Mar.    4,1694. 

LaSENBY,  or  LlSSENBY. 

1717      May  12.  Joseph. 

1737      May  22.  Joseph,  jun. 

1737      May  22.  Ehzabeth. 


Thomas,  of  Mercy, 
Benjamin,  of     ,, 
Joseph,  of  „ 

Mercy,  of  „ 

Margaret,  of     ,, 


June  10,  1693. 
June  17,  1693. 
Sept.  2,  1694. 
Apr.  26,  1696. 
Apr.    2,  1699. 


Mary,  of  Mercy,  Nov.  16,  1701. 
Joseph,  of  Feb.     7,  1719[0 

Mary,  of  Jos.,  May  28,  1721. 

Mary,  of  Dec.  30,  1722. 

Benjamin,  of  Joseph,  June  14,  1724. 
Thomas,  of  „  Oct.  10,  1725. 
Eliza,  of  „        June    4,  1727. 

Samuel,  of  „        June  23,  1728. 

Mary,  of  Joseph 

and  Mary,  Aug.  17,  1729. 
Benjamin,  of  Joseph,  Oct.     1,1732. 
Thomas,  of        „        Feb.  24,  1733[4 
Mercy,  of  „        Oct.     5,  1735. 

Lash. 
1693      Mar.    5.  Joanna. 

LaTHROP,  or  LoTHROP. 

Prior  to  1786.  John,  pastor. 

„      ,,      ,,  Elizabeth. 

1773      July  11.  Mary. 

1799  Jane  Tvler. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliza.,   Sept.    4,  1692. 

Latty. 
John,  of  Apr.  27,  1718. 

Ann,  of  Mar.  30,  1720. 

Lawlek. 
Thomas,  of  Eliza,       Apr.     3,  1720. 

Lawrence. 

Samuel,  of  Daniel,     May  22,  1698. 

(of  Charlestown.) 

LaW'SON. 
1690      May  25.         John. 


Ann,  of  John,     Nov.  10,  1700. 
Sarah,  of  „       Mar.  29,  1702. 

John,  C  twins  of  John,  )    t„i,, 
Savil,^    lately  dead,    ^  J^ly 


16,  1704. 


Lax. 
1725      May    2.         Mary. 

Leader. 
1655      Nov.  9,  to 

June3, 1657.  S. 

Leatherby. 
William,  of  WilUam,  Mav  29,  1709. 
William,  of  Oct.  22,  1710. 

William,  of  William,  Mar.  23,  1712. 
Jonathan,  of  „  Oct.  11,  1713. 
Lydia,  of  „         Oct.   11,  1713. 

Samuel,  of  Dec.  25,  1715. 

Lydia,  of  Dec.  15,  1717. 


APPENDIX. 


261 


Leblonde. 

1690      Mar.    2 

Ann. 

James,  of  Anne,        Apr.  21, 

1690. 

James,  of          , 

,         June    7, 

1691. 

Ann,  of             , 

Apr.    9, 

1693. 

Peter,  of           , 

,          Jan.     6, 

1694[5 

Gabriel,  of        , 

Mar.     6, 

1698. 

Ann,  of             , 

,          Dec.  15, 

1700. 

Phillippa,  of    , 

Apr.  23, 

1704. 

Mary  Ann,  of  , 

Mar.  10, 

1706. 

Alexander,  of  , 

,          Sept.    4, 
Lee. 

1709. 

1687      Apr.  24 

Anna. 

Thomas,  of 

Sept.    5, 

1703. 

Deborah,  of 

Oct.     8, 

1704. 

George,  of 

July  28, 

1706. 

Stephen,  of 

(of 

June  22, 
Chebacco.) 

1707. 

"William,  of 

Sept.  28, 

1707. 

David,  of 

Nov.  30, 

1707. 

Martha,  of 

Mar.  19, 

1710. 

Joseph,  of 

Mar.  25, 

1711. 

Benjamin,  of 

Apr.  17, 

1715. 

Martha,  of 

I 

June    8, 

jEGARE. 

1718. 

1695      July  28 

Solomon 

Sarah,  of  Solomon,     July  28,  1695. 

Leighton,  or  L(a)yton. 
1727[8  Jan.    7.         Abigail. 

Michael,  of  Nov.  15,  1713. 

Isaac,  of  Jan.     1,  1715  [6 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,    Jan.   21,  1727[8 

Joseph,  of  „         Jan.   21,  1727[8 

Eliza,  of  „         Jan.   21,  1727[8 

Mary,  of  „         Jan.  21,  1727[8 
David,  of  June  13,  1731. 

Leman. 
1713      Sept.  20.  Nathanael. 

Nathaniel,  of  Nathl.,  Aug.  8,1703. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  Nov.  26,  1704. 
Mary,  of  Feb.  23,  1717[8 

Lendall. 
Mary,  of  Joanna,        Jan.  29,  1715[6 

Lende. 
1708      Dec.    5.         Jonas. 


Lewis. 
1730      Mar.  22.  Elizabeth. 

Prior  to  1786.  Thomas. 


Phillip,  of  Martha, 

Jan.     9, 

1703[4 

Samuel,  of        „ 

Feb.  17, 

170o[6 

Martha,  of 

Feb.  29, 

1707[8 

Thomas,  of 

Jan.     7, 

1710[l 

Elizabeth,  of 

Sept.  20, 

1713. 

Isaac,  of  Hannah, 

Aug.  30, 

1713. 

John, of          „ 

Aug.  30, 

1713. 

Hannah,  of     ,, 

Aug.  30, 

1713. 

William,  of 

June  13, 

1714. 

Deborah,  of 

Mar.  23, 

1718. 

Sarah,  of  Eliza, 

Apr.  12, 

1730. 

Susanna,  of  Eliza., 

July  11, 

1731. 

Joseph,  of          „ 

Feb.  17, 

1733[4 

Elizabeth,  of     ,, 

Dec.  28, 

1735. 

Sarah,  of            „ 

Apr.  30, 

1738. 

Joseph,  of          „ 

Jan.  25, 

1740[1 

1694 


Letherland. 

Deborah. 


Lilly,  or  Lillie. 
1682      Apr.    9.  Samuel. 

1713      Sept.  20.         Elizabeth. 


Theophilus, 

of  Sam. 

,  Aug. 

24, 

Samuel,  of 

ji 

June 

5, 

Mehetabel, 

of      „ 

Feb. 

4, 

Elizabeth,  of        „ 

Mar. 

1, 

Edward,  of 

)> 

Feb. 

27, 

Abigail,  of 

Nov. 

19, 

Samuel,  of  Hannah, 

May 

1, 

John,  of 

)> 

Aug. 

n, 

Theophilus, 

of    „ 

Aug. 

23, 

LlNFIELD. 

1715      Oct. 

30. 

David. 

1690. 

1692. 

1693[4 

1696. 

1697[8 

1699. 

1726. 

1728. 

1730. 


Abigail,  of  David,      Aug.  20,  1721. 


1769 


Little. 
Mar.  19.  Deborah. 


Lorin(g). 
1698      May  22.  Daniel. 

1701[2  Feb.    9.  Nathanael. 

1770      Sept.    9.  Margaret. 


Daniel,  of  Daniel,  Mar.  31,  1700. 
Sarah,  of          „  Nov.  16,  1701. 
Daniel)  of         „  Oct.  31,  1703. 
Isaac,  of           „  Dec.     2,  1705. 
Nathanael,  of  „  Feb.  20,  1708[9 
Priscilla,  of      „  Jan.   17,  1713[4 
Nathanael,  of  Na- 
thanael, Sept.   3,  1704. 
Rachel,  of         „  Jan.     7,  1710[1 
Nathaniel,  of    ,,  June  14,  1713. 


262 


APPENDIX. 


Thomas,  of  Nathl.,  Aug.  28,  1715. 
Israel,  of  „         May  26,  1717. 

Matthew,  of     „        Feb.  14,  1719[0 

Love. 
Bennet,  of  Susannah,  July    4,1703. 
John,  of  „         Aug.  19,  1705. 

John,  of  „         Dec.  22,  1706. 

Susannah,  of    „         Mar.  13,  1709. 

LOVEL. 

1717[8  Feb.  23.  Jane. 

Low,  or  LoE. 
Wm.,  of  Elizabeth,    Mar.  30,  1718. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  Feb.  21,  1719[0 

LOWDEX. 

Mary,  of  Eliza,  Mar.  30,  1720. 

Lowell,  or  Lowle. 
Rachel,  July   13,  1701. 

Mary,  of  Dec.     3,  1710. 

LOYD. 

1710      Nov.  5.         Elizabeth. 

LUIST. 

1688      June  24.  Robert. 

LUPTON. 

Ilebeckah,of Rebeck., Apr.  5,  1724. 
Rebeckah.of  „  Oct.  17,  1725. 
David,  of  „       Sept.  10,  1738. 

Lyman. 
1712      May  18.  Caleb. 

McKarty. 
Elizabeth,  of  Mary,    Apr.  30,  1693. 

Mackieny,  or  Mackenny. 
1723      Nov.  10.  Lydia. 

1781  Margaret. 


Lydia,  of  Lydia,        Mar.  15,  1719. 

Maffen,  or  Mattin. 
Sarah,  of  Eleanor,     Apr.  23,  1721. 
Ann,  of  „  Aug.    8,  1725. 

Ann,  of  „  Apr.    2,  1727. 

Eleanor,  of    „  June   9,  1728. 

Margaret,  of  „  Aug.   9,  1730. 

Malladge. 
John,  of  Aug.  31,  1712. 

Malsey. 
1708      Sept.  5.         Eliza. 


Man. 

Ann,  of  Priscilla,       May  16,  1714. 
James,  of     „  Nov.  28,  1714. 

Mansil(l). 
1664      Dec.  11.  Katharine. 

1687      May  22.  Samuel. 

Mareham. 
William,  of  Dec.  13,  1713. 

Maret,  or  Merrit. 
1705 [6  Jan.  27.  Philip. 

1711      June    3.  Mary. 

1732      Aug.  20.  Eunice. 


Mary,  of  Philip, 
John,  of  „ 

Daniel,  of  „ 
Susannah,  of  „ 
Henry,  of  ,, 
Rachel,  of  „ 
Experience,  of,, 
Jacob,  of  „ 

Rachel,  of  ,, 
Sarah,  of  „ 

Ebenezer,  of  ,, 
Experience,  of,, 
Daniel,  of  Daniel, 
David,  of  „ 
f> 
John,  of  „ 

Sarah,  of  Eunice, 
William,  of    ,, 
Lydia,  of  Daniel, 


Feb.  18, 
Feb.  18, 
Feb,  18, 
Apr.  14, 
July  13, 
July  10, 
Dec.  31, 
Feb.  24, 
Mar.  28, 
July  24, 
June  2, 
June  2, 
Aug.  6, 
Mar.  16, 
May  10, 
Feb.  27, 
Feb.  24, 
June  15, 
Sept.  13, 


1704[5 

1704[o 

1704[5 

1706. 

1707. 

1709. 

1710. 

1711[2 

1714. 

1715. 

1717. 

1717. 

1727. 

1729. 

1730. 

1731[2 

1733[4 

1735. 

1741. 


Marshall. 
Thebe,  of  Dec.    6,  1713. 

W^illiam,  of  Nov.  13,  1715. 

Hannah,  of  June    1,  1718. 

Mary,  of  Sept.  12,  1725. 

Sarah,  of  William,     Feb.  17,  1739[0 

Martyn,  or  AIartin. 
1678      June   2.         S. 
1693      May  14.  Edward. 

169  3  [4  Jan.  21.  Susanna. 


Michael,  of  Sarah, 

Feb.  26, 

1692[3 

Mary,  of 

Mar.  17, 

1695. 

Sarah,  of  Edward 

and  Sarah, 

May  30, 

1697. 

Edward,  of     „ 

Oct.  22, 

1699. 

John,  of           „ 

June  21, 

1702. 

Richard,  of     „ 

Sept.  19, 

1703. 

John,  of  Edward, 

May  12, 

1706. 

Susannah,  of ,. 

Feb.  27, 

1708[9 

Nathaniel,  of  Edward 

and  Sarah 

,  Dec.  16, 

1711. 

APPENDIX. 


263 


Elizabeth,  of  Edwd., 
Abigail,  of  „ 

Samiiel.of  Nathaniel, 
Nathaniel,  of    ,, 
Susannah,  of  Susan., 
Sarah,  of  „ 

Thomas,  of        ,, 


May  16,  1714. 
July  22,  1716. 
Oct.  21,  1710. 
Aug.  3,  1718. 
Jan.  21,  1721[2 
July  11,  1725. 
Oct.   14,  1733. 


Marvel. 
Elizabeth,  of  Apr.  17,  1709. 

Marvin. 
Jane,  of  Mar.  18,  1711. 

Mary,  of  June  14,  1713. 

Mason. 
1676      May  22.         B. 
1676      May  22.  S. 

1691      Dec.  20.         John. 


Nathaniel,  of Nathl.,  Feb.  10,  17ll[2 
Nathaniel,  of      „       Mar.  30,  1720. 

Masten. 
John,  of  Rebecca,      July  21,  1728. 


1663 

1663 

1679 

1682 

1689 

1690 

1690 

1694 

1700 

1705 

1714[5 

1714[5 

1722 

1727 


Mar. 
Mar. 
Aug. 

Aug. 
Mar. 
Mar. 

Mar. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Nov. 


Mather. 

10.         Increase. 
Maria. 
Cotton. 
Maria. 
Abigail. 
Elizabeth. 
Sara. 
Abigail. 
Jerusha. 
EUzabeth. 
Katharin. 
Abigail. 
Samuel. 
Hannah. 


Mary  (the  minister's 

child), 
Abigail, 
Mehetabel, 
Hannah, 
Increase, 
Samuel, 
EUzabeth, 
Samuel, 
Nathanael, 
Jerusha, 
Eleazar,  ) 
Martha,  ) 
Samuel,  of  Rev.  Mr, 

and  Hannah,    Feb.  13, 
Thomas.of  Rev.  Mr. 
Saml.  &  Hannah,   Aug.  13, 


twins,    ) 
above,    ) 


Nov.  8, 
June  17, 
Dec.  8, 
Feb.  7, 
July  9, 
Dec.  15, 
July  16, 
Nov.  3, 
May  22, 
April  8, 

Nov.    1,  1713 


1691. 

1694. 

1695. 

1096[7 

1699. 

1700. 

1704. 

1706. 

1709. 

1711. 


1736[7 
1738. 


Elizabeth     (minis- 
ter's child),  Mar.     2,  1740. 
Increase,        „  Sept.  20,  1741. 

Mattocks,  or  Mattox. 

1686      Nov.   7.  Samuel. 

1688      Nov.    4.  S.  Constant. 

1691      Mar.  15.  Elizabeth. 


Diana,  of  Henry, 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 


Nov.  27,  1698. 
Mar.  16,  1701. 


1715[16 


Maverick. 

Eliza. 


John,  of  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Paul,  of  Apr.  18,  1714. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,  Mar.  11,  1716. 

Jotham,  of  Mar.  23,  1718. 

Jemimah,  of  Feb.  14,  1719[0 

Ann,  of  Dec.  10,  1721. 

May. 

Thomas,  of  Jane,        Mar.    9,  1707. 

Herrington,  of  Nov.  28,  1708. 

(of  Charlestown.) 


1707 
1722 


Mayer. 
Dec.  28.         Alice. 
Dec.    9.         Hannah. 


Patience,  of  Hannah,  Jan.     1,  1698[9 
Mary,  of  Ralf,  May  29,  1715. 


Henry,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  Ralph, 
Mary,  of      ,, 
Hannah,  of  „ 


May  29,  1715. 
Nov.  6,  1720. 
Oct.  3,  1725. 
Mar.  31,  1728. 


Mayo. 


1659  Dec.  25. 

1660  May  13. 


John,  Pastor. 

S. 

Thomasin. 


1740 


Mears,  Meers,  &c. 
July  20.  Abigail. 


Mary,  of  Maria,  Sept.  18, 

Samuel,  of  Mary,  Aju".  14, 
Katharine,of  Mariah,  Sept.  28, 

James,  of            „  Feb.  13, 

Thomas,  of  Mary,  June    4, 

Cumby,  of  Reb.,  Feb.  11, 

Mary,  of  Sept.  27, 

Peter,  of  June  20, 

Abigail,  of  March  3, 

Mary,  of  Peter,  July  15, 


1698. 

1700. 

1701. 

1703[4 

1710. 

1710[1 

1713. 

1715. 

1723. 

1739. 


264 


APPENDIX. 


1693 


Me]:,lin(e)s. 
May  or  June.  Thomas. 


James, 

of  Thomas, 

May  27, 

1694. 

Mel^ 

IN. 

1730 

March  1. 

Mercy. 

1731 

Aug.  15. 

Mercy. 

Mercy 

of  Mercv, 

Sept.  11, 

1720. 

Mary, 

of 

Sept.  11, 

1720. 

E,ebeckah,of ,, 

Sept.  11, 

1720. 

James,  of       „ 

Sept.  11, 

1720. 

Elizabeth,  of 

Aug.  26, 

1722. 

Jonath 

an,  of 

Jan.     9, 

1725 [6 

Menzies. 

1740 

Sept.   7. 

Rebeccah. 

John,  of  Rebeckah,    Nov.  30,  1740. 

Merchant,  or  Marchant,  &c. 
1710      Apr.  23.  Judith. 

1725      Apr.  25.  William. 

1725      Apr.  25.  Abigail. 


Abigail,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
William,  of 
Martha,  of 
William,  of 
Martha,  of  William 
and  Abigail, 
Mercy,  of      „ 


Aug.  15,  1714. 
Dec.  30,  1716. 
Oct.  26,  1718. 
Dec.  11,  1720. 
Aug.  12,  1722. 

Oct,  17,  1725. 

Aug.  27,  1727. 


Metcalf. 
1696      Aug.  23.  John. 

1708      Oct.  24.  Nathanael. 


1709 


MlACUM. 

Aug.    7.         Mary. 


MiDDLECOT. 

1692      Mar.  20.  Richard, 


William,  of 


MiLBORN, 

June  10,  1722. 


Milk, 
1716      Mar,  11.  Mary, 

1727[8  Feb,  11.         James. 


Mary,  of 
John,  of  above, 
James,  of     „ 


Mar.  11,  1711. 
Mar.  11,  1711. 
Mar.  11,  1711. 


1690 


Miller. 
May  25,  Matthew, 


1788 

Thomas,  of 
Alice,  of 


Elizabeth. 


Mar.  31,  1700, 
July  30,  1704, 


Mills, 
1691      Oct,     4.  Edward, 

Edward,  of  Ed.,  Sept,  20,  1696. 

Milton, 
John,  of  Oct,     4,  1713. 

Theodocia,  of  Feb.  27,  1714[5 

of  Jan,  24,  1730[1 

MoBERLY, 

Thomas,   of   Mary 

(HoAvard),     Nov.  26,  1732, 

Monk, 
1687      Mar,  27,  Christopher. 

1691      July  to  Oct,    Mary, 
1716      Mar.  11.  Mary, 


Thomas,  of  Chris,,      Feb,    2,  1689[0 
Ebenezer,  of  Christo- 
pher and  Mary,  Jan,  31,'1691[2 
Susannah,  of  Chris.,  May  17,  1696, 
Mary,  of  Christopher 

and  Mary,  June  23,  1700, 
Mary,  of  George  and 

Mary,  April  1,  1694. 
Robert,  of  Mary,  June  5,  1709. 
Caleb,  of  June  17,  1711, 

Moor(e). 
1655      Nov.  9,  to 

June3, 1657.  S. 
1727  [8  Jan.     7,         Elizabeth. 

Marv,  of  Mehet'l. 

(Cock),  Nov.  23,  1740. 
Sarah,  of      „  „  Nov.  23,  1740. 

Samuel,  of  „  „  Nov.  23,  1740. 


More. 


1682  Apr.  9. 

1725  May  23. 

1780  Nov.  5. 
1790 


S. 

AVilliam. 
Mary. 
Margaret. 


Ann,  and  two  more, 

of  Ann,  Apr.  30,  1693. 


William,  of 
Robert,  of  ,, 

Ephraim,  of  Eliza, 
William,  of  Sarah, 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliza, 
Ann,  of 


Aug.  4,  1695. 
June  20,  1697. 
June  8, 1707. 
Apr.  17,  1709, 
Nov.  24,  1728, 
Jan.  24,  1730[1 


APPENDIX. 


265 


Morel. 


1670 


B. 


MOREY. 

1691      Mar.  22.  Susanna. 


Edmund,  of  Susan.,  Mar.  29,  1691. 
Israel,  of  „         July    5,  1691. 

Ebenezer,  of  „  July  23,  1693. 
Susannah,  of  „  Oct.  21,  1694. 
Joseph,  of  Aug.    6,  1699. 

Morgan. 
of  Ralph,  Oct.  12,  1712. 

MORNE. 

1699      Nov.  19.  Elizabeth. 

Morris. 
Mercy,  of  Eliz.,  Mar.  10,  1700. 

Morse. 
1705[6     Feb.  24.       Daniel. 


Elizabeth,  of 


Mar.    4.  1711. 


Mortimer. 
Richard,  of  Mar.  21,  1703. 

John,  of  Sept.    3,  1704. 

Mary,  of  John,  Sept.    9,1733. 

John,  of      „  Sept.    9,  1733. 

Richard,  of,,  Sept.  14,  1735. 


1685 


Morton. 

1.         Hannah. 


Moulder. 
1676      Apr.  30.         S. 

Mountfort(h),  or  Mountford. 
1693      May  or  June.  John. 
1698      May  22.  Elizabeth. 


1701  Mav  11. 

1716  Mar.  11. 

1717  May  12. 
1724  Aug.  30. 
1727  Dec.  24. 
1731  Sept.  26, 
Prior  to  1786. 


Mary. 

Naomi. 

Benjamin. 

Susanna. 

Hannah. 

Jonathan. 

Hannah. 


Edmund,  of 
Benjamin,  of  John, 
Elizabeth,  of     ,, 
Mary,  of  ,, 

John,  of  ,, 

Joanna,  of  ,, 
Susannah,  of  ,, 
Joshua,  of  „ 
Jonathan,  of  „ 
34 


Oct.  21, 

Apr.  5, 
Feb.  27, 
Oct.  6, 
Mar.  7, 
June  11, 
Apr.  1 , 
Sept.  22, 
Sept.  26, 


1694, 

1G96. 

1697[8 

1700. 

1703. 

1704. 

1705. 

1706. 

1708. 


Hannah,  of  John,  Jan. 
Joseph,  of        „  Apr. 

Edmund,  of    ,,  May 

Edmund,  of  Elizab.,  May 
Elizabeth,  of  „  May 
William,  of  Mary,  Oct. 
Elizab.,  of  Jonathan,  Feb. 
Hannah,  of  „  Oct. 
Jonathan,  of  ,,  Nov. 
Sarah,  of  „        Mar. 


21,  1710[1 
19,  1713, 
26,  1717. 
29,  1698. 
29,  1698. 

6,  1700. 

3,  1705[6 
26,  1707. 
26,  1710. 

8,  1713. 


1675[6 


Mountjoy. 
Feb.  20.       S. 


Thomas,  of 
Ephraim,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Joanna,  of 
Mary,  of 


Mower. 

Jan.  30,  1708[9 
Dec.     2,  1711. 
Sept.  13,  1713. 
Nov.  22,  1719. 
June  12,  1720. 


Munnings. 
1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3, 1657.  B. 
1659      Nov.  27.         Mahalael. 

Mtjnson. 
1688      Aug.  12.  Sarah. 

Myngs. 

Christr.,  of  Christr.,  Mar.    3,  1700. 
Joyce,  of  „        Dec.  21,  1701. 

Myreck. 
Gideon,  of  Jan.  25,  1740[1 

Naps. 
Anna,  of  Nov.    6,  1737. 

Narramore. 
1681      May  29.         Hannah. 
1702[3  Jan.   30.  Samuel. 

Nash. 
Rebeckah,  of  Timo.,  Feb.  24,  1694[5 

Neal,  or  Neil. 
1736      Apr.  18.         Sarah. 


Mary,  of  Oct.     1,  1693. 

John,  of  Andrew,  Sept.  16,  1722. 

Need(h)am. 

1697      Apr.  25.  John. 

1697      Apr.  25,  Ezekiel. 

1701      Apr.     6.  Keziah. 

1727      Sept.  17.  Mary. 


Priscilla,  of 


July  10,  1698. 


266 


APPENDIX. 


Ezekiel,  of  Ezekiel, 
Ezekiel,  of      „ 
Mary,  of 
John,  of 
Daniel,  of  Mary, 
Jane,  of 

Susannah,  of  John, 
John,  of  Dorothy, 


Mar.  10,  1700. 
Sept.  28,  1707. 
Apr.  13,  1701. 
Jan.     7,  1704[.5 
Jan.   26,  1706[7 
Jan.   11,  1707 [8 
Mar.  20,  1709. 
Mar.  11,  1739. 


NEGROES. 


1702  Aug.  23. 

1702  Aug.  23. 

1716  Nov.  25. 

1728  Nov.  17. 

1731  May     2. 

1772  Aug.   9. 


Samuel. 

Katharine. 

Ruth  George. 

James. 

John  Spanyard. 

B.  Briston. 


Richard,  of  Oct. 

Two  children  of 

Samuel,  Nov. 
Abraham,  of  Ezer 

(minister's  Negro),  Feb. 
Margaret,  of  „  Jan. 
Dinah,  of  Cesar,  Mar. 
John,  of  Elizabeth,  Feb. 
Lydia,  of  Woodby,  Feb. 
Thos.,  of  Eliza  Wood- 
by (a  Negro),  Nov. 
Peter  (Negro  man),  Feb. 
Tobias,  „  „  Feb. 
Boston,  „  „  Feb. 
Scipio,  of  Boston,  Feb. 
Violet,  of        „  Feb. 

John  (Negro  man, 

free),  June 
Maria  (Negro  worn.),  June 
Jane,  ,,  „  June 
Elizab.,  of  Elizabeth,  Nov. 
William,  of  Hagar,  Dec. 
Onesimus,  of  Onesi- 

mus  and  Hagar,  Mar. 
John,  of    „  „     Oct. 

Onesimus,  of  Onesi- 
mus, May 
Jane  (a  Negro  wo- 
man), Apr. 
Jane  (servant  of  Mr. 

Fyfield),  Apr. 
Jane  (servant  of  Mr. 

Saltonstall),  Apr. 
Ann,  of  above,  Apr. 

James  (Negro  man),  June 
Pito,  „         „      June 

Elizabeth,  of  above,  June 
Marea,  of  „       June 

Sabina  (free  Negro 

"woman).  Mar. 


1693. 

1698. 

1722[3 
1726[7 
172^. 
1725 [6 
1725[6 

1731. 

1727[8 
1727[8 
1727[8 
1727[8 
1727[8 

1728. 
1728. 
1728. 
1728. 
1728. 

1730. 
1731. 

1734. 

1730. 

1731. 

1731. 

1731. 

1733.  . 

1733. 

1733. 

1734. 


16,  1735. 


Ann,  of  Peter  and 

Jane,  Feb.  13,  1736[7 
Jane,  of       „         „     Apr.  29,  1739. 
Nancy,  of    „         „     Jan.   11,  1740[1 
Boston  (Negro  servt. 
to  Col.  Hutchinson),  Nov.  13,  1737. 
Boston,  of  above,        Nov.  13,  1737. 
Caesar,  of       „  Nov.  13.  1737. 

Peter,  of  Boston,        Mar.     2,  1740. 


1691 


1736 


1694 


1708 
1718 


Neesen. 
Nov.  29.         Willoughby. 

Nellacut. 
Apr.    4.  Susanna. 

Newbal. 

Mary. 

-    Newhal(l). 
Nov.  21.         S, 
Mar.  16.         Sarah. 


Mary,  of        Rest.,     Dec.  16,  1694. 


Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of  ,, 

James,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Eleazar,  of  Ann, 
Nathaniel,  of 


Aug.  21,  1698. 
Oct.  28,  1705. 
Dec.  29,  1695. 
Apr.  26,  1702. 
Nov.  28,  1714. 
Apr.    8,  1716. 


Newman. 
1731      Sept.  26.         Thomas. 

Nickels,  or  Nichols. 
1797  Mary. 


John,  of  Reb.,  Mar.  13,  1715. 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,    Apr.    2,1727. 
Andrew,  of      „  Jan.  26,  1728[9 

Nicholson. 
1686      June  20.  Elizabeth. 

NiPEOD. 

1714      Mar.  14.         Sarah. 

Noble. 
Elizabeth,  of  June  15,  1712. 

John,  of  Jan.   24, 1713[4 

William,  of  July  13,  1718. 

NORRIS. 

Thomas,  of  Martha,  Sept.  30,  1705. 
Mary,  of  Dec.  23,  1716. 

Norton. 
1685      Mar.     1.  David. 

1690      July  27.         Mary. 


APPENDIX. 


267 


1700      May    5. 


Experience. 


William,  of  David 

and  Temperance,  Dec.  20 

Thomas,  of     „     ,,  July  30 

John,  of  „     „  July  30 

Samuel,  of      „     „  Jan.   12 

David,  of         „     „  Mar.  21 

Joanna,  of       „     „  July 

George,  of  George,  Nov. 

Eunice,  of  David,  Jan. 

Jonathan,  of  ,,  Nov. 

George,  of  Aug. 

John,  of  July  29 

Abigail,  of  Aug.    3 

Samuel,  of  Oct.   24 

William,  of  Sept.    3 

David,  of  Sept.  21 

Thomas,  of  Jan.   31 

John,  of  Mar.  17 

Jonathan,  of  Sarah,  Mar.  14 

Temperance,  of  ,,  Feb.  26 

NORVELL,  or  NOEVIL 


John, of 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
Stephen,  of 
John,  of  John, 
John,  of 
Maij,  of 
Nathl.,  of 
George,  of 
Francis,  of ,, 


May  26 
Aug.  14 
Oct.  5 
Aug.  8 
Feb.  25 
Feb.  15 
Jan.  23 
July  10 
Sept.    3 


1691. 

1693. 

1693. 

1695 [6 

1697. 

1699. 

1701. 

179fi[7 

1709. 

1703. 

1705. 

1707. 

1725. 

1727. 

1729. 

1730[1 

1734. 

1736. 

1737[8 


1706. 

1709. 

1712. 

1731. 

1732[3 

1735[6 

1736[7 

1737. 

1738. 


(See  White,  1738.) 


Nowel(l). 

Joseph,  of    Eliza,  Sept.  16,  1711. 

George,  of         „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Michael,  of        „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Thomas,  of        „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Zechariah,  of    „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

John,  of  „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Elizabeth,  of    „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Lydia,  of  „  Sept.  16,  1711. 

Thomas,  of  John,  Aug.  27,  1732. 

Mary,  of  „  Aug.  27,  1732. 

Michael,  of     „  Sept.  16,  1739. 

Notes. 

John,  of  Susannah,  Dec.  17,  1699. 


1770 


1710 


Nuttage. 
Aug.    5.         Sarah. 

Oakes. 
May  21.         Josiah. 


Bethiah,  of  Samuel,  Oct.  16,  1709. 
Mary,  of  „        Feb.  11,  1710[1 

Edward,  of       „        Jan.   11,  17 12 [3 


Odel.  ■ 


Mehetabel,  of 
Sarah,  of  above, 
Rignel,  of    „ 
Samuel,  of  ,, 
John,  of       „ 


Mar.  31,  1728. 
Mar.  31,  1728. 
Mar.  31,  1728. 
Mar.  31,  1728. 
Mar.  31,  1728. 


Oliver. 


1678  Nov.  3. 
1681  July  10. 
1700  Mar.  10. 
1710  Mav  21. 
1740[1  Jan.   11. 


Susanna. 

John. 

Hannah. 

Peter. 

Sarah. 


Jerusha,  of  Peter  and 

Jerusha  (deceased),  Dec.  31,  1710. 
Susan'h,  of  Martha,  May  27,  1711. 
John,  of  „        June  10,  1711. 


1700 


Orne. 
Mar.  10.  Sara. 


Orris. 
1677      May  11.         S. 
1677[8  Feb.  17.         S. 
1690[1  Jan.  Hanna. 

1721      May     7.         Abigail. 


Elizabeth,  of  Hanna,  Feb.     1,  1690[1 
Hanna,  of  „      Feb.     1,  1690[1 

Joseph,  of  „      Feb.     1,  1690[1 

Packer. 
John,  of  Feb.  17,  1711[2 


Page. 


1681[2 

1716      June    3. 


S. 
Ruth. 


William,  of 

Dec.  27, 

1713 

Edward,  of 

Sept.  18, 

1715 

John,  of 

Aug.    4, 

1717 

Abiel,  of 

July  19, 

1719 

John,  of 

Oct.     1, 

1721 

Jonathan,  of 

July  29, 

1723 

Mary,  of 

July  18, 

1725 

Gardner,  of 

Mar.  12, 

1727 

Benjamin,  of  Ruth 

June  14, 

1730 

Pain,  or 

Payne. 

1692      Mar.  20. 

William 

1708      Mar.  28. 

Stephen. 

1713      July  19. 

Hannah. 

1715      Apr.  17. 

Mary. 

1736[7  Jan.     9. 

Diana. 

Prior  to  1786. 

Mary. 

»      ..     » 

WilUam. 

268 


APPENDIX. 


Mehetabel  and  six  ^ 
children,  viz. :       I 
Marj^  I 

Margaret, 
Elizabeth, 
Hannah,  j 

Mehetabel,  | 

John,  J 

William,  of  William 

and  Mary,  Nov. 
Tobiah,  of  William,  June 
Sarah,  of  William 

and  Mary,  July 
John,  of  Bethiah,  Sept 
Sarah,  of  ,, 
Hannah,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Elizab.,  of  Hannah 
Sus'li,  of  Stephen, 
Mary,  of 


Richard,  of 
Mary,  of 
Samuel,  of 
William,  of 
Stephen,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Stephen,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Mary,  of 


J^Apr.  23,  1693. 


24,  1695. 
27,  1697. 

16.  1699. 
13,  1702. 

13,  1702. 
22,  1704. 

e,  1707. 

25,  1710. 
10,  1710. 
12,  1712. 
19,  1716. 

26,  1718. 
30,  1720. 

1,  1712. 
1,  1713. 

14,  1714. 
25,  1714. 

9,  1715. 
5,  1718. 


Sept. 

Oct. 

July 

June 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Aug. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

June 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

Oct. 

Oct. 


Parkman. 


Pake. 

Ruth,  of  May    4,  1712. 

Palfry. 
1727      Nov.  19.         Hannah. 


Hannah,  of  Jan.     5,  1706 [7 

Hannah,  of  Hannah,  Feb.     9,  1706[7 
Richard,  of  Apr.  24,  1709. 

Lydia,  of  Sept.    3,  1710. 

Walter,  of  Oct.  28,  1711. 

Palmer. 
1685      Dec.  27.         Hannah. 

Par(r)ham,  or  Param. 
Rebeckah,  of  Feb.  27,  1697[8 

Hannah,  of  Dec.  15,  1700. 

Joseph,  of  Oct.  22,  1704. 

Frances,  of  June  15,  1707. 

Mary,  of  Dec.  16,  1711. 


1769 


Parker. 

Mar.  26.         Susanna. 


Thomas,  of  Rachel,  July  28,  1695. 

Elizabeth,  of  Dec.  30,  1716. 

Anna,  of  Jan.     5,  1717[8 

Elizabeth,  of  Sept.  11,  1720. 


1664  Dec.  11. 
1683  May  20. 
168  7  [8  Jan.  1. 
1725  Apr.  11. 
1781  Dec.  31. 
Prior  to  1786. 


S. 

Eliza. 

Hannah, 

Susanna. 

Samuel. 

Sarah. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Mary,  of  Hannah, 
Rebeckah,  of  „ 
Susanna,  of 
John,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Nathaniel,  of 
Alexander,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Sarah,  of  William, 


Sept.  14, 
Aug.  7, 
Aug.  7, 
Sept.  11, 
Jan.  21, 
Nov.  24, 
June  7, 
June  12, 
May  28, 
Sept.  5, 
Feb.  4, 
Nov.  16, 


1690. 

1692. 

1692. 

1692. 

1693[4 

1695. 

1696. 

1698. 

1699. 

1703. 

1710[1 

1712. 


1682 


Parmiter. 
June    5.  S. 


Parnal,  or  Parnel. 
Frances,  of  Dorothy,  Oct.     1,1693. 
Frizzel,  of  Francis,     Aug.    7,1720. 

Paul. 
Mar  J',  of  Matthew,     Apr.  14,  1728. 
Sarah,  of        „  Mar.  29,  1730. 


Paavly. 

1689      May  19. 

Mary. 

Peal. 

1721[2    Feb.  4. 

Susanna. 

Pearse,  or  Peirce,  or  Pierse. 

1677      June    1. 

S. 

1694      Mar.  11. 

Robert. 

1705[6  Jan.  27. 

Isaac. 

1712      Oct.  26. 

Moses. 

1714      Dec.  26. 

Grace. 

1717[8  Feb.    9. 

Mary  (bapt.). 

1734      Sept.  29. 

Elizabeth. 

1738      Mar.  19. 

Sarah. 

1738      Mar.  19. 

Elizab.  (bapt.) 

Thomas,  of  Reb., 

Apr.     6,  1701. 

Stephen,  of  Ra., 

June  15,  1701. 

Rachel,  of      „ 

June  15,  1701. 

John,  of 

July  13,  1701. 

Joseph,  of 

Aug.  24,  1701. 

Agnes,  of 

Mar.  14,  1703. 

Mary,  of 

Apr.  18,  1703. 

Josiah,  of 

May  27,  1705. 

Susannah,  of 

Nov.  18,  1705. 

Isaac,  of  Isaac, 

Apr.  17,  1709. 

APPENDIX. 


269 


Sarah,  of  Isaac,  May  28,  1710. 

Elizab.,  of    „  Jan.   22,  1715. 

Samuel,  of  „  Apr.  12,  1719. 

Isaac,  of       „  Oct.   14,  1722. 

Isaac,  of       „  Apr.  21,  1723. 

Mary,  of       „  Mar.     7,  1725. 
Moses,  of  Moses,         Nov.    9,1712. 

Eliza,  of        „  Nov.    9,  1712. 

John,  of       „  Mar.  29,  1713. 

Lydia,  of  Sept.    7,  1712. 

Sarah,  of  Nov.  15,  1713. 

Mary,  of  Dec.  13,  1713. 

Mary,  of  Dec.  16,  1716. 

Susannah,  of  Mar.  15,  1719. 

John,  of  Mar.  12,  1721. 

Jonathan,  of  July  23,  1721. 
Rebeckah,  of  Thos.,  Oct.  27,  1723. 

Thomas,  of  „       July  18,  1725. 

Susanna,  of  „       Nov.  26,  1727. 

John,  of  „       Dec.  15,  173-1. 

Joanna,  of  „       May  29,  1737. 

Lydia,  of  Juiie  18,  1727. 

John,  of  Jan.     6,  1733 [4 

Mary,  of  John,  Oct.  31,  1736. 

John,  of        „  June  11,  1738. 

Abigail,  of    „  May  18,  1740. 


Pearle. 
Sarah,  of  Mary,  Oct. 


3,  1714. 


Pearson,  or  Pierson. 
1726      Nov.  13.  Grace. 


Thomas,  of  July  19, 

Mary,  of  Sept.  25, 

Hammond,  of  Sept.  14, 

Abigail,  of  Sept.  23, 


1696. 
1698. 
1701. 
1705. 


Peat. 


Joseph,  of 


Jan.  26,  1717[8 


Peck. 
Ebenezer,  of  Joanna,  May  10, 
Joanna,  of  „       June  27, 

Joanna,  of  „       Oct.  30, 

Peggy. 
1697      Apr.  11.         Dorcas. 

Pelham. 
1730      June  28.         Rebecca. 


1696. 
1697. 
1698. 


John,  of      El.,  Sept.    3, 

Edward,  of    ,,  Sept.    3, 

Samuel,  of    ,,  Sept.    3, 

William,  of  „  May  13, 

Pell. 
Elizabeth,  of  Dec.  12, 


1693. 
1693. 
1693. 
1694. 


1697. 


Pellou. 
Abigail,  of  Feb.  16,  1723[4 

Abraham,  of  above,    Feb.  16,  1723[4 
Peter,  of  „         Feb.  16,  1723[4 

Abigail,  of        „         Feb.  16,  1723[4 
Thomas,  of       „         Mar.     8,  1724. 


1677 
1691 


Pennel. 
July  29.  S. 
Apr.  19.         Alice. 


Perkins. 
1715      May  29.  Keziah. 

1725      Sept.  12.  John. 

1725      Oct.  10.         Mary. 


Isaac,  of  Mary, 

Mar.    5, 

1704 

Richard,  of 

Sept.  16, 

1705 

Abraham,  of 

Dec.  30, 

1705 

Mary,  of 

Mar,  23, 

1707 

Checkley,  of  John, 

Mar.  30, 

1707 

Abraham,  of       „ 

Sept.    5, 

1714 

Nathaniel,  of      „ 

Nov.    6, 

1715 

Benjamin,  of       „ 

Apr.  13, 

1718 

Hannah,  of         „ 

Apr.    4, 

1708 

Perry. 

1706[7  Jan.  26. 

William. 

1723      May  12. 

Sarah. 

Sarah,  of  Susannah,  Oct.   15,  1699. 

John,  of  Apr.  22,  1705. 

Mary,  of  William,  Oct.   10,  1708. 

Bearnsly,  of  Jno.,  Apr.  30,  1710. 


1726 


Ferryman. 
Nov.  13.         Elizabeth. 


Phelps. 
Elizabeth,  of  July 


3,  1709. 


Phillips. 
1650      June   5.  John. 

1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3,  1657.  Widow. 
1658[9  Jan.  16.  Jean. 

1675[6  Feb.  20.         S. 
1682  25.  Temperance. 

1687      May  22.         Bridget. 
1794  Ann. 

1794  Sybella. 


Bridget,  of  July  26,  1691. 

Nathanael,  of  Jan.  14,  1693[4 
Zcchariah,  of  Dehor.,  Feb.    9,  1700[1 

Bridget,  of  ,,       June    6,  1703. 

Rebeckah,  of  Nov.    7,  1703. 

Nathaniel,  of  Aug.  20,  1704. 

Thomas,  of  Feb.  25,  1704 [5 


2T0 


APPENDIX. 


Mary,  of      M., 
Elizabeth,  of  „ 
Sarah,  of       „ 
John,  of         „ 


Sept.  5,  1714. 

Sept.  5,  1714. 

Sept.  5,  1714. 

Sept.  5,  1714. 


1690      Mar. 


Phips. 
8.         Sr.  WilUam. 


PiCKMAN. 

Joshua,  of  May  10,  1713. 

Nathanael,  of  Aug.    3,  1718. 

PlERPONT. 

1727[8  Feb.  11.         Sarah. 
1732      Oct.  15.         James. 

Pike,  or  Piek. 


Samuel,  of 
Phillip,  of 
Mary,  of 

Katharine,  of  Sus., 
William,  of        „ 
Susannah,  of 


Nov.  23,  1707. 
Mar.  27,  1709. 
Oct.  21,  1711. 
May  8,  1720. 
June  19,  1720. 
Sept.  11,  1720. 


Pindar. 
Eliza,  of  Benjamin,    Aug.   8,1736. 

Pine. 

Katharine,  of  Oct.   13,  1723. 


1690 


Pitcher. 
July  13.         Hanna. 


John,  of  Hanna, 
Susanna,  of  „ 
Hanna,  of      „ 
Mary,  of  Grace, 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of 


July  13,  1690. 
July  13,  1690. 
July  13,  1690. 
Dec.  14,  1712. 
June  12,  1715. 
Aug.  30,  1719. 


Pitman. 
Elizabeth,  of  Sept.  22,  1716. 

William,  of  July  13,  1718. 

William,  of  Apr.  10,  1720. 

Pitts. 
1682      Apr.    9.         S. 
1709      Aug.   7.         Hannah. 


Elizabeth,  of  El: 
John,  of 
James,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of 
W'illiam,  of 
Mary,  of 
Hopestill,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Joseph,  of 


Dec. 
July 
Dec. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Mar, 


31,  1693. 
14,  1700. 
19,  1703. 
14,  1709. 
14,  1709. 
14,  1709. 
14,  1709. 
17,  1712. 
17,  1712. 
8,  1713. 


James,  of  July  26,  1696. 

William,  of  June  19,  1698. 

Marv,  of  June    3,  1705. 

Lydia,  of  July  13,  1707. 
Richard,  of  Hannah,  Sept.   4,  1709. 

Edward,  of  Sept.  25,  1709. 

Joseph,  of  Dec.  31,  1710. 

Richard,  of  Apr.    4,  1714. 

Sarah,  of  Nov.  18,  1716. 

Pit(t)son. 
Elizabeth,  Sept.  18,  1715. 

James,  of  Mar.    9,  1718. 

Plaisted,  or  Plaistead. 
1727      Dec.  24.         Mary. 


Sarah,  of 
John,  of 
Mary,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Abigail,  of  above, 
Thomas,  of        „ 
Mary,  of  „ 

Elizabeth,  of     ,, 
John,  of  „ 

Hannah,  of 
Daniel,  of 
Thomas,  of 


Julv  23, 
Mar.  30, 
Nov.  1, 
Feb.  4, 
Aug.  11, 
Feb.  29, 
Sept.  23, 
Mar.  16, 
Mar.  16, 
Mar.  16, 
Mar,  16, 
Mar.  16, 
Mar.  16, 
June  28, 
Oct.  15, 
Aug.    1, 


1699. 

1701. 

1702. 

1704[5 

1706. 

1707. 

1711. 

1718. 

1718. 

1718. 

1718. 

1718. 

1718. 

1719. 

1721. 

1725. 


Platts. 
Esther,  of  Hannah,    Aug.  15,  1697. 
Hannah,  of  Feb.    5,  1698  [9 


1708 


Plimlie. 
Sept.   5.         Mary. 


Pom(e)r(o)y. 
1719      Mar.  15.  Joseph  (bapt.). 

1725      Apr.  25.         Lydia. 
1727[8  Jan.  14.  Mary. 

1737      Mar.  27.         Lydia. 


John,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Lydia,  of 
Mary,  of 


Nov.  23,  1712. 
Apr.  10,  1715. 
Sept.  1,  1717. 
Aug.  19,  1722. 

Elizabeth,  ri^y<ia,-  I  Sept.  10.  1727. 

Samuel,  of  Lyda,       Aug.   9,1730. 


Porter. 

Thomas,  of  Pru- 
dence, Sept.    1,  1706. 

Sarah,  of  Eliza,  June  29,  1707. 


APPENDIX. 


271 


William,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
James,  of 
Jarid,  of 
Charles,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Daniel,  of 
Aaron,  of 
Elisha,  of  David 


Aug.  1,  1708. 
June  11,  1710. 
June  22,  1712. 
Feb.  28,  1713[4 
Apr.  21,  1717. 
Apr.  21,  1717. 
Nov.  2,  1718. 
July  17,  1720. 


and  Eliza,  Apr.  10,  1726. 


PousLiN,  or 
Samuel,  of  Samuel, 
Elizabeth,  of 
Katharine,  of 
Mary,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Katharine,  of  Saml., 
Margaret,  of  Mar- 
garet, 
Samuel,  of  Abigail, 
Sarah,  of  „ 


POUSLY. 

Sept.  25,  1715. 
Nov.  24,  1717. 
Nov.  13,  1720. 
Apr.  14,  1723. 
May  29,  1726. 
Aug.  11,  1728. 
Aug.  23,  1730. 

Sept.  30,  1733. 
July  23,  1738. 
July  20,  1740. 


Powell. 
1650      June   5.         Michael. 
1658 [9  Jan.  16.  S. 


Thomas,  of  Dorothy 

Mar.  21,  1703 

POWEH. 

Sarah,  of 

July  30,  1738 

Pratt,  or 

Prat. 

1682[3 

Timothy. 

1714[5  Feb.  13. 

Mary. 

1717      Sept.    1. 

Ebenezer. 

1717      Sept.   1. 

Rachel. 

1725      Apr.  25. 

"William. 

1725      Apr.  25. 

Mehetabel. 

1725      Aug.  22. 

Joshua. 

Margaret,  Mar.    4,  1694. 

Abigail,  of  May  24,  1696. 

Elizabeth,  of  Aug.  25,  1700. 

Elias,  of  May    2,  1703. 
Rachel,  of  Ebenezer,  Mar.  23,  1712. 

Ebenezer,  of      „  Nov.  20,  1715. 

Joseph,  Sept.  28,  1712. 

Mary,  of  Joseph,  Sept.  28,  1712. 

John,  of  Oct.     4,  1713. 

Elizabeth,  of  Nov.    1,  1713. 

Hannah,  of  Oct.   30,  1715. 

Mary,  of  July     1,  1716. 

Elizabeth,  of  Jan.     6,  1716[7 

Caleb,  of  Dec.  22,  1717. 

Elizabeth,  of  May  22,  1720. 

Gill,  of  Mehetabel,  Jan.  15,  1720[1 

William,  of  Apr.  21,  1723. 


John,  of  William,      Aug.    8,  1725. 
Mary,    of  William 

and  Mehetable,  Sept.  14,  1729. 
Mehetabel,  of  Wm.,  May  14,  1732. 
Hannah,  of  „      May    4,  1735. 


1684 


1725 
1726 


Priest. 
Jan.  18.         Hannah. 

Prince,  or  Prence. 
Mar.  28.  David. 

Mar.    6.  Elizabeth. 


Deborah,  of  Feb.  23,  17l7[8 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,  Apr.    5,1719. 

David,  of  Apr.    2,  1721. 

David,  of  Sept.  29,  1723. 

James,  of  David,  Apr.  11,  1725. 
Elizabeth,  of  David 

and  Eliza,  Apr.  23,  1727. 

Pringle(e). 
1688      June   3.  Sarah. 

1721  [2  Feb.    4.         Sarah. 


Alexander,  of  Sarah,  May  1,1692. 

Sarah,  of  „      Feb.  17,  1694[5 

Margaret,  of        „      Jan.  24,  1696 [7 

Elizabeth,  of       „      Jan.  29,  1698 [9 

Mary,  of  „      Jan.  29,  1698[9 

Elizab.,    7  twins  of  )  T,  1  ,    ,«„,r^ 

Mary,       J     Sarah,  J  ^^^^  1'  1701[2 


1723 


Pritchet. 
Jan.  12.         Sarah. 


Sarah, 

of  Sarah, 

June   5,  1720 

Mary, 

of 

Aug.   5,  1722 

Procter(tor). 

1698 

Dec.  25. 

Edward. 

1716 

Sept.  22. 

Mary. 

1720 

Mar.  20. 

Benjamin. 

1725 

Mar.  14. 

John. 

1727 

Dec.  10. 

Samuel. 

1727[8 

Jan.    7. 

Mary. 

1727[8 

Jan.    7. 

Margaret. 

1730 

Aug.  16. 

Nathaniel. 

1768 

Aug.  14. 

Judah. 

1772 

April. 

Edward,  jun. 

1783 

May  31. 

Sarah. 

1795 

Sarah. 

Mary,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Benjamin,  of  Ed., 
John,  of  „ 

Timothy,  of      „ 


June  25,  1693. 
Feb.  24,  1694 [5 
Dec.  27,  1696. 
Feb.  12,  1698  [9 
Aug.    8,  1703. 
Jan.  12,  170«[7 


272 


APPENDIX. 


Nathanael,  of  Ed.,  Oct. 
Ebenezer,  of  „  Aug. 
Elizabeth,  of  Edward 

and  Eliza,  Dec. 
Elizabeth,  of  Sept. 

Samuel,  of  June 

Samuel,  of  Mar. 

Mary,  of  Mar. 

Benjamin,  of  Benj.,  Nov. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  July 
John,  of  ,,        Jan. 

Ephraim,  of  „  Oct. 
Samuel,  of  Benjamin 

and  Mary,  Sept. 
Elizabeth,  of  June 

Mary,  of  Joseph,        May 
Rachel,  of    ,, 
Hannah,  of  ,, 
Joseph,  of     „ 
Hannah,  of  John, 
John,  of 


Edward,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Samuel,  of 


Apr. 
Sept. 
June 
June 
Mar. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
July 
Oct. 


2, 
17, 

26, 
•21, 
17. 
28, 
1, 
18, 
19. 
29, 
13, 

13, 

9, 

10, 

11, 

27, 

3, 

22, 

7, 

2, 

14, 

10, 

1, 

30, 


1709. 
1712. 

1714. 

1701. 

1705. 

1708. 

1713. 

1722. 

1724. 

1726[7 

1728. 

1730. 
1723. 
1724, 
1725. 
1730. 
1733. 
1729. 
1731. 
1733. 
1735. 
1737. 
1738. 
1738. 


Elizabeth,  of  Nathl.,  July 

Protite. 
1717      May  12.         Josephe. 


PULCIFER. 

Freeman,  of  Joseph,  Apr.  13,  1735. 
Joseph,  of         „        Feb.  13,  1736[7 

PuLLEx,  or  Pulling. 
1714      Feb.  20.  Mary. 

1772      May.  Elizabeth. 

Pue(e)ington. 
1728      Nov.  10.         Sarah. 


Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Hannah,  of 
Elias,  of 
Sarah,  of 
John,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Ann,  of 


July  4,  1697. 
Sept.  15,  1700. 
July  2,  1704. 
Apr.  7,  1706. 
Aug.  29,  1708. 
Dec.  11,  1709. 
Dec.  2,  1711. 
Feb.    6,  1714[5 


Pym. 
1702      May  17.         John  (bapt.). 
1702      June  28.         Mary. 

E.ADM0RE. 

John,  of  Mary,  Feb.  13,  1703[4 


1727 


Rainer,  Ratmer,  &c. 
Nov.  12.         Elizabeth. 


James,  of  Elizabeth,  Oct. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Sarah,  of 
of 
Mary,  of 
Susannah,  of 
James,  of 
Martha,  of 
Lj'dia,  of 


Oct, 

May 

Jan. 

July 

Sept. 

Mar. 

Sept. 

Dec. 


1,  1693. 
28,  1694. 
16,  1697. 

15,  1698[9 
6,  1701. 
3,  1704. 

16,  1707. 
24,  1710. 
28,  1712. 


Rainsford. 

1670  S. 

1692      July  24.  Susanna. 

1700      Mar.  10.  Rebeckah. 


John,  of  Rebeckah,  May  19,  1695. 

Mercy,  of        „  May  18,  1695. 

John,  of  „  Jan.   26,  1700[1 

Rebeckah,  of  R.,  Mar.  10,  1706. 


Ran 

D. 

1769      Dec.  29. 

Sarah. 

1795 

Ann. 

Robert,  of  Robert, 

Feb.  12, 

1709[0 

Thomas,  of 

June   3, 

1711. 

Thomas,  of 

Nov.    9, 

1712. 

Elizabeth,  of 

June  20, 

1714. 

Rachel,  of 

Mar.    4, 

1716. 

Robert,  of 

Jan.  19, 

1717[8 

Joshua,  of 

July  19, 

1719. 

William,  of 

Sept.    4, 

1720. 

Sarah,  of 

Mar.  25, 

1722. 

William,  of  Robert, 

July    7, 

1723. 

Mary,  of 

Mar.    7, 

1725. 

Joshua,  of 

Feb.  12, 

1726[7 

Randal. 
1714[5  Jan.  23.  Elizabeth. 


Joseph,  of  Eliza, 
Mary,  of 
Margaret,  of 
Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Abigail,  of  ,, 
Mary,  of      „ 
Stephen,  of,, 


July  25,  1714. 
Sept.  19,  1714. 
Aug.  22,  1725. 
Nov.  2,  1729. 
Mar.  1,  1730. 
Jan.  12,  1734[5 
Dec.    5,  1736. 


Rankin. 

1655      Nov.  9  to 

June  3,  1657  S. 

Ranost. 
Charles,  of  Apr.  21,  1723. 

Rashley. 

1692      Mar.  20.         S.Christian. 


APPENDIX. 


273 


1670 


Ratvlings. 

S. 


Love,  of  Love, 
John,  of     ,, 
Judith,  of  ,, 


July  31,  1709. 
Sept.  2,  1711. 
Oct.  10,  1714. 


Ray. 

Caleb,  of  Caleb,  Feb.  9,  1706[7 

George,  of  „  Feb.  9,  1706[7 

George,  of   ,,  Nov.  6,  1709. 

Ra(y)mond,  or  Reymond. 
1768      Nov.    6.  Thomas. 

1774      Mav.  Elizabeth. 


Mary, 

of  Mary, 

Apr.  23,  1727. 

Read, 

&c. 

1661 

Aug.    4. 

Esclras. 

1661 

Aug.    4. 

S. 

1667 

Aug.  11. 

S. 

1690 

Apr.  14. 

Elizabeth. 

1720 

Sept.  25. 

Obadiah. 

Esther,  of  Feb.  24,  1705 [6 

John,  of  Eliza,  Jan.     5,  1706[7 

Richard,  of  Aug.  29,  1708. 

Samuel,  of  Apr.     3,  1709. 

Sarah,  of  Sarah,  May  13,  1711. 
Hannah,  of  Hannah,  June  24,  1711. 

Elizabeth,  of  May     4,  1712. 

Eliza,  of  Jan.     3,  1713[4 

Susannah,  of  Sept.  29,  1717. 

Mary,  of  Marj',  May  15,  1726. 

Venteman,  of  May  25,  1729. 

Redduck. 

Abiel,  of  Abiel,  June   8,  1707. 

John,  of  Jan.     9,  1708 [9 

John,  of  Mav  18,  1712. 

John,  of  July  12,  1713. 


Reinolds,  or  Ronalds. 


1706 
1707 
1772 

1772 


Apr.  14. 
Nov.    9. 
May. 
Nov.  28. 


John. 

Susanna. 
Grindal. 
Benjamin. 


John,  of 
John,  of 


June  20,  1703. 
Mar.  30,  1720. 


Renoff,  or  Renuffe. 

John,  of         Oct.  24,  1725. 

Rebecca,  of  Oct.     8,  1727. 

Elizabeth,  of  Nov.  23,  1729. 

35 


1666      Apr.  29.  S*.  [wife  of 

John]. 
1682  [3  Theophilus. 

Richards. 
1663 [4  Feb.    7.         John. 
1670  Elizabeth. 

1691      Oct.     4.  Mehetabel. 

1700      Nov.  24.  Ann. 


Humphrey,  of  Sus.,  Sept.  13, 

John,  of  Nov.  21, 

Susannah,  of  Jan.   26, 

Mary,  of  Sept.  19, 

Obadiah,  of  Jan.   21, 

Samuel,  of  Dec.  23, 

Sarah,  of  Mary,  July  21, 

Joanna,  of  Mar.  22, 

Humphry,  of  Apr.    9, 


1696. 

1697. 

1700[1 

1703. 

1704[5 

1711. 

1717. 

1719. 

1721. 


1791 

Joseph,  of 
Ann,  of 
Isabella,  of 
John,  of 


Richardson. 

Elizabeth. 


Feb.  6,  1725[6 
May  5,  1728. 
May  11,  1729. 
Jan.  10,  1730[1 


RlDGAWAY. 

James,  of  Mehetable,  Jan.     9,  1725[6 
Mehetabel,  of  „  Dec.  31,  1727. 

John,  of  „  Mar.  15,  1730. 

of  „  June  27,  1731. 

George,  of  Feb.  11,  1732[3 

Joseph,of  Mehetabel,  Apr.    6,  1735. 
Sarah,  of  „  Aug.  20,  1738. 


1708 


Rix. 
Apr.  18.  Mary. 


Roberts. 
1665[6  Jan.  14.  S. 

1741[2  Jan.  31.  Ann. 


John,  of  J., 
Joseph,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  „ 
Sarah,  of  ,, 
Simon,  of  ,, 
Eizabeth,of ,, 


June  15,  1701. 
June  15,  1701. 
June  15,  1701. 
June  15,  1701. 
June  15,  1701. 
June  15,  1701. 


Robertson,  or  Robinson. 
1665[6  Jan.  14.  Damaris. 

1680  Nov.    7.  George. 

1681  [2  Eliza. 
1689      Oct.     6.  Sara. 


Joseph,  of  Sara,  Sept.  21,  1690. 


274 


APPENDIX. 


Nathanael,  of  George 

and  Eliz.,  Feb. 


Robert,  of 
Sarah,  of  „ 

Martlia,  of  George, 

of 
John,  of  Mary, 
Mary,  of     ,, 
Elizabeth,  of 
Edward,  of 
James,  of  El., 
Edward,  of ,, 
David,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 


Jan. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
Aug 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Feb. 
Nov 
A])r. 
Ajir. 
Jan. 
Apr, 


15,  1690[1 
29,  1692[3 

11,  1693[4 

12,  169o[6 
14,  1692. 

1,  1693. 

8,  1693. 

24,  lG94[o 

1,  1696. 

13,  1701. 
13,  1701. 
10,  1702[3 
28,  1706. 


Robes. 
1682      June    5.  Sarah. 

RoBY,  or  RoBEE,  or  Robie,  or  Ruby. 


1681 
1709 
1716 
1720 
1725 
1790 
1790 
1792  or  3 


Mar.  1. 
May  22. 
May  13. 
Mar.  20. 
May     2. 


William. 

Thomas. 

]Mary. 

Lois. 

Joseph. 

Henry. 

Sarah. 

Joseph. 


(of.,       „J 
^     twins.     3 


William,  of  William 
and  Elizabeth, 
John,  of         ,,       „ 
Joseph,  of      „       ,, 
Samuel,  of    ,,       „ 
Dorothy,  of 
Mercy,  C  of 
Anna,  (     twins, 
Sarah,  of 
Ebenezer,  of ,,       ,, 
Henry,  of      „       „ 
Mercy,  of      „       ,, 
Elizabeth,  of  Elizab. 
"William,  of  Prise, 
"William,  of 
James,  of 
Anna,  of 

Hannah,  of  Joseph, 
"William,  of       „ 
Ebenezer,  of      ,, 
Thomas,  of        „ 
William,  of        „ 
John,  of 
James,  of 
Sarah,  of 


Nov.  1,  1690. 
Dec.  6,  1691. 
Aug.  20,  1693. 
Nov.  4,  1694. 
Mar.  29,  1696. 

Sept.  19,  1697. 


Dec.  11, 
Oct.  5, 
Feb.  21, 
Sept.  3, 
Jan.  5, 
Jan.  17, 
Feb.  12, 
July  9, 
Feb.  16, 
Jan.  16, 
June  11, 
June  30, 
Apr.  16, 
Sept.  21, 
Jan.  30, 
Dec.  31, 
Mar.  23, 


1698. 

1701. 

1702[3 

1704. 

1717[8 

1719[0 

1720[l 

1721. 

1723[4 

1725 [6 

1727. 

1728. 

1732. 

1735. 

1725[6 

1727. 

1729. 


Rogers. 

1729  July  27.  Elizabeth. 

1730  June  28.  George. 
1742                              Lvdia. 


Gamaliel,  of  Mercy,  Mar.  11,  1711. 

Mercv,  of  Sept.    0,  1713. 

Henry,  of  May  29,  1715. 

Elizabeth,  of  Aug.    5,  1716. 

Marv,  of  Mercy,  Feb.     2,  1717[S 
Wiiiiam,  of  William,  Aug.  24,  1718. 

John,  of  Sept.  21,  1718. 

Elizabeth,  of  June  14,  1719. 

Elizabeth,  of  Sept.  IS,  1720. 

Sarah,  of  Jan.     8,  1720[1 

Joseph,  of  Apr.  15,  1733. 

Nathl.,  of  George,  Feb.  13,  1736[7 

Sarah,  of  „  Oct.  29,  1738. 

Lvdia,  of  „  Sept.  20,  1741. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mar.  19,  1738. 

ROLASOK. 

Sarah,  of  July  24,  1715. 

John,  of  Aug.  21,  1715. 

John,  of  Julv  29,  1716. 

Elizabeth,  of  Aug.  10,  1718. 

Sarah,  of  Mar.  28,  1725. 

Rolls. 

Mary,  of  Grace,  Feb.  13,  1708 [9 

ROLSOX,  or  RoLSTOX. 

Mary,  of  Aug.    1,  1708. 

Susannah, 

Abigail, 

Joseph,  of  '  Nov.  23,  1712. 


twins  of  Mar.  11,  1711. 


ROMNEY. 

David,  of  Dec.     8,  1723. 

Ross. 
1696      June  22.  Rachel. 

1726      May  29.  William. 


Rachel,  of 


Feb.  24,  1694 [5 


Rowel. 
Samuel,  of  Thomas,    May  20,  1705. 
Sarah,  of  Mar.     2,  1707. 

Hannah,  of  Apr.  17,  1709. 

Rebeckah,  of  July  18,  1714. 

Knight,  of  Dec.  30,  1716. 

RowxDES,  or  RoWXDEY. 
Joseph,  of  Sarah,        Sept.  10,  1699. 
Samuel,  of      „  Feb.  20,  1703[4 

ROYCE. 

1685  [6  Jan.  31.  Daniel. 

Ruck. 
1670      June    4.         S. 
1681      July  10.  Eliza. 

1681[2  Feb.    5.  Samuel. 


APPENDIX. 


275 


1690  Mav  2a. 

1700  June  30. 

1710  [6  Feb.  19. 

1722[3  Jan.   20. 

1728  Mar.  10. 


John. 

Hannah. 

Andrew. 

Hannah. 

Elizabeth. 


Abigail,  of  John,        Sept.  17,  1699. 
John,  of         „  Aug.         1701. 

Hannah,  of  John 

and  Hannah,  Dec.     6,  1702. 


John,  of 

Peter, 

Eliza, 

Margaret, 

Marv, 


May  26,  1706. 
July  4,  1708. 
Nov.  20,  1709. 
Apr,  8,  1711. 
«ept.  21,  1712. 


RUGGLES. 

Sarah,  of    Tabitha,  Aug.  26,  1705. 

John,  of  „  Aug.  26,  1705. 

Samuel,  of       ,,  Dec.  29,  1706. 

Robert,  of        „  Dec.  26,  1708. 

Robert,  of        „  May  18,  1712. 

Ruml(e)y. 
Elizabeth,  of  Feb.  25,  1721[2 

Thomas,  of  Aug.    1,  1725. 

Samuel,  of  Eliza,        Aug.  27,  1727. 
Joseph,  of  Jan.     4,  1729[0 

Mary,  of  June    4,  1732. 

George,  of  Elizabeth,  Mar.     3,  1734. 
Benjamin,  of  Sept.  14,  1735. 

Lydia,  of  Mar.  27,  1737. 

RUSSEL. 

1705[6  Feb.  24.  Thomas. 


Mary,  of  Mary, 
William,  of  Ann, 
Susannah,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Ann,  of 
Ann,  of 

Sarah,  of  Thomas, 
John,  of  Sarah, 


Apr.  15,  1694. 
June  8,  1701. 
June  24,  1705. 
Sept.  2,  1705. 
Oct.  13,  1706. 
July  11,  1708. 
July  10,  1709. 
Dec.     6,  1730. 


Rust. 
Prior  to  1786.  Lucy. 

RUTHER. 

John,  of  Matthew,      Sept.  22,  1706. 

Rtal. 

1708      Oct.  24.         Mary. 


Mary,  of  Mary,  Apr.  25,  1703. 

John,  of  Feb.     4,  1704[5 

Joseph,  of  Nov.  10,  1706. 


Lydia,  of 
Mary,  of 

1785 


Sables. 

Jan.   26,  17l7|8 
Jan.   '26,  17l7[8 

Salee. 


Mary. 

Salisbury. 

S:;::^{i:r^.|Aug.26,i694. 

Nicholas,  of  Bridget,  Nov.  28,  1697, 
Benjamin,  of  Nov.  12,  1699. 

Salmon. 
17 17  [8  Feb.  16.  Abiel. 


William,  of  Abiel,  Aug.  17,  1707. 

Mary,  of  „  Aug.  17,  1707. 

John,  of  „  Apr.  22,  1711. 

Sarah,  of  Sept.  27,  1713. 

Salter.    , 

1690      May  25.  Elizabeth. 

1713      Mar.  15.  Richard. 

1714[5  Feb.  20.  Abigail. 

1715      May     1.  Sampson. 


Sarah,  of  Abigail,       Jan.   18,  1712[3 
Sarah,  of  Sampson,    Mar.  25,  1716. 
Francis,  of  Abiel,       Nov.  22,  1719. 

Saltonstall. 
1731      Dec.  26.         Nathaniel,  Esq. 

Sams. 
1690      Apr.  14.  Elizabeth. 


Elizabeth,  of  El.,       June  15,  1690. 

Samson. 
Benjamin,  of  Feb.  13,  1714[5 

Sands. 
1693      May  or  June.  Ann. 

Sargent,  or  Sergent. 
1731      Dec.  12.  John. 

1735 [6  Feb.     1.  Mary. 

John,  of  Dec.  12,  1731. 

Marv,  of  Mary,  Feb.     8,  1735[6 

John,  of  John,  July     9,  1738. 

Joseph,  of  John 

and  Mary,  July    6,  1740. 

Satley. 
Elnathan,  of  Jan.     6,  1711  [2 

Martha,  of  Jan.  24,  1713[4 


276 


APPENDIX. 


1782 


Sausberry. 
Mar.  24.  William. 


Savage. 
Mercy,  of  Sarah,        Oct.  21,  1716. 
John,  of  Oct.   19,  1718. 

Savil. 
Sarah,  of  Jan.  23,  1714[5 

Scarlet. 
1672      Oct.  20.  Samuel. 

1672      Oct.  20.  S. 

SciLY,  or  Seely. 
Abigail,  of  Sarah,       Nov.    3,1706. 
Sarah,  of        „  Nov.    3,  1706. 

John,  of  Oct.  25,  1713. 


SCOLLY". 


Lyclia,  of  Lydia, 
Hannah,  of  ,, 
John,  of  „ 
James,  of  „ 
Susannah,  of 
Grover,  of  John, 
Grover,  of    „ 


Nov.  20,  1698. 
Nov.  20,  1698. 
Nov.  20,  1698. 
Mar.  19,  1699. 
Dee.  29,  1700. 
May  17,  1702. 
Oct.   15,  1704. 


Scot. 
Rebecca,  of  Rebecca,  Jan.  28,  1732[3 

SCOTTOW. 

1693      June  10.  Joshua. 

1727      Dec.  10.  Sarah. 

Rebeckah,  of  Joshua 

and  Sarah,  Jan.  30,  1697 [8 
Sarah,  of  Joshua,        Nov.  12,  1699. 
John,  of        „  Nov.  16,  1701. 

SCUTT. 

Mary,  of  Sept.    9,  1716. 

James,  of  Eliza,  Jan.   25,  1718[9 

Search. 
1683      Apr.  15.  S. 

Seavour. 
1704      Oct.     1.         Susanna. 

Seecomb. 
1696[7  Feb.  14.         John. 


Joseph,  of  June  16,  1706. 

Mehetabel,  of  Feb.  22,  1707 [8 

Symmons,  of  John,  May  20,  1711. 

Mary,  of  Nov.    6,  1715. 


Seers. 
1714      July  11.  Robert. 

1714[5  Feb.  20.  Elizabeth. 


Robert,  of 

Mar.    4, 

1694 

Mary,  of  Robert, 

Mar.    4, 

1694 

Robert,  of        ,, 

Mar.    4, 

1694 

Sarah,  of          ,, 

Mar.    4, 

1694 

Alexander,  of  „ 

May  29, 

1698 

Sental. 

1719      Nov.    1. 

Joanna. 

1741      Sept.   6. 

Mary. 

William,  of 
John,  of 
William,  of 
Joseph,  of 


Sept.  28,  1712. 
Mar.  31,  1717. 
Dec.  13,  1719. 
June    2,  1723. 


Sentek. 
1718      Apr.  13.  Nathaniel. 

Service. 
1724      Nov.    2.  Joanna. 

Samuel,  of  Joanna,  Sept.  28,  1712. 

James,  of  June  21,  1713. 

John,  of  June  24.  1716. 

David,  of  Aug.  24,  1718. 


Seward. 

1709      Nov. 

6. 

Edyth. 

1727      Dec. 

10. 

Benjamin. 

James,  of  Edyth, 

July    2, 

1693. 

William,  of 

,, 

Oct.     6, 

1695. 

Thomas,  of 

J, 

May     9, 

1697. 

John,  of 

Jan.   15, 

1698[9 

Samuel,  of  Edyth, 

Apr.  13, 

1701. 

Mary,  of 

May     6, 

1705. 

Sarah,  of 

May     6, 

1705. 

Benjamin,  oJ 

Jan.     9, 

1708[9 

Edward,  of  Benja., 

June    4, 

1732. 

Benjamin,  oi 

>> 

Aug.  14, 

1737. 

William,  of 

99 

June    7, 

1741. 

James,  of  James, 

July  28, 

1734. 

Sewell. 

Mary,  of 

Oct.     1, 

1710. 

Sexton. 

1679      July 

6, 

S. 

John,  of 

Mar.  13, 

1692. 

Sharp. 

1700      Sept. 

15. 

Mary. 

1711[2  Feb. 

24. 

Elizabeth. 

APPENDIX. 


277 


1714 
1716 


Dec.  26. 
June    3. 


Sarah. 
Deborah. 


John,  of  John, 
EHzabeth,  of 
William,  of 
Gibbons,  of 
Mary,  of 
James,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Jonathan,  of 
Gibbons,  of  Sarah, 
Mary,  of  Deborah, 
William,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Deborah,  of 


Sept.  29, 
June  29, 
Feb.  28, 
Feb.  28, 
Aug.  27, 
Aug.  12, 
Mar.  2, 
Mar.  9, 
Mar.  20, 
Aug.  20, 
Aug.  3, 
Jan.  9, 
Jan.  9, 
Mar.  17, 
Sept.  20, 
Sept.  29, 


1700. 

1701. 

1702[3 

1702[3 

1704. 

1705. 

1707. 

1707. 

1709, 

1710. 

1712. 

1714[5 

1714[5 

1717. 

1719. 

1717. 


Sharkow. 
1735      Mar.    2.         Mary. 

Shaw. 
1681      May  29.  Ruth. 


1696      Auk.  23. 


Nathanael. 


Ruth,  of  May  15,  1692. 

Susanna,  of  May  21,  1693. 

Joseph,  of  July     1,  1694. 

Margaret,  of  Nathl.,  May  14,  1699. 

Shepaud,  or  Shepherd. 
Thomas,  of  Sept.  18,  1709. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mar.    2,  1712. 

William,  of  Feb.    7,  1713[4 

Mary,  of  Feb.  26,  1715[6 

Susannah,  Dec.  28,  1718. 

Sherburn. 
Thomas,  of  Margt.,    Feb.     1,  1740[1 

Sherrard. 
Mary,  of  May  13,  1733. 

Sherwix. 
Richard,  of  S.,  Feb.  19,  1698[9 


Jane,  of        „ 
Henrj^,  of  Sarah, 
Thomas,  of 


Feb.  19,  1698[9 

Apr.     2,  1699. 

Dec.  22,  1700. 


Shipreeve. 
Hephsiba,  of  Feb.  26,  1692[3 

Sarah,  of  El.,  Apr.    9,  1704. 

William,  of  Jan.      6,  1705 [6 

Elizabeth,  of  Apr.  13,  1707. 

Mary,  of  July  30,  1710. 


SnoRS,  or  Shoke(s'),  or  Shoore. 
1700      Doc.  15.  Mary  (bapt.). 


Elizabeth,  of  June  17,  1694. 

Susannah,  of  Mary,   Dec.  22,  1700. 
John,  of  Dec.     6,  1702. 

Short. 
1692      July  24.  Jane. 

1693[4  Jan.  21.  Mercy. 

Shortrigs. 
1690[1  Feb.  21.  Mary. 

Mary,  and  her  infant,  Feb.  21,  1690[1 
William,  of  Mary,      June  26,  1692. 


Shute. 


1696      Nov.    8. 


Richard. 


John,  of  Lydia, 
Lydia,  of       ,, 
Elizabeth,  of,, 
Richard,  of 
Michael,  of 


Apr.  12,  1702. 
Apr.  12,  1702. 
Apr.  12,  1702. 
June  20,  1703. 
Sept.  17,  1704. 


Michael,  of  Richard,  Aug.  24,  1707. 
Mary,  of  „         Mar.  30,  1718. 


1706 


Sill. 
Apr.  28.         Thomas. 


Elizabeth,  of 
Agnes,  of 


June  21,  1702. 
Feb.     3,  1705[6 


SiMKiNS,  or  Symkins. 
1724      Apr.  12.  Margery. 


Katharin,  of  Margt.,  Dec.  25,  1698. 
James,  of  Margery,    Feb.  16,  1700[1 
Thomas,  of  June    6,  1703. 

William,  of  Margery,  Oct.  22,  1704. 


Simpson,  or 
Elizabeth,  of 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliz., 
Samuel,  of 
Abigail,  of  John, 
Jonathan,  of 
Beniamin,  of 
Wait,  of 
Wait,  of 
Austin,  of 
Hannah,  of 
John,  of  Lydia, 


Sympsox. 
Apr.  20, 
Sept.  19, 
Sept.  21, 
Mav  29, 
Apr.  1, 
Nov.  4, 
Auo-.  30, 
Oct".  9, 
Sept.  1, 
Dec.  22, 
Mar.  12, 


1701. 
1703. 
1707. 
1709. 
1711. 
1711. 
1713. 
1715. 
1717. 
1717. 
1721. 


Skate(s). 
1G89   Mar.  24,  or 

Apr.  7.  Sara. 


278 


APPENDIX. 


Joseph,  of  Hannah,    July  13,  1701. 
Hannah,  of      „  July  13,  1701. 

Sk.iff(e). 
Margaret,  of  June    3,  1733. 

Hannah,  of  Margt.,    June    3,1733. 
Ann,  of  „         June    3,  1733. 

Rachel,  of         „         Aug.    4,  1734. 
Mary,  of  „         Nov.  23,  1735. 

Skillings. 
Prior  to  1786.  John. 

1774      Jan.  Prudence. 

Skinner,  or  Silynner. 
1696      Nov.    8.  Elizabeth. 

1718      Dec.  28.  Thomasin. 

1725      May    2.  John. 


1727[8  Feb.  27.  Sarah. 

1728      Aug.  25.  Sarah. 


Mary,  of  Thomasin,  July  22,  1694. 

John,  of  „  July  22,  1694. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,  Aug.    2,1696. 

Joseph,  of  Aug.    1,  1697. 

John,  of  Oct.     9,  1698. 

Joseph,  of  Apr.  13,  1701. 

Sarah,  of  Oct.     3,  1703. 

Woodes,  of  Aug.    3,  1712. 

Sarah,  of  John,  May  23,  1725. 

of        „  May  28,  1727. 

Elizabeth,  of,,  July  28,  1728. 

Skriggers. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,  Nov.  29,  1730. 

Slauter. 
Sarah,  of  Jan.     5,  1731[5 

Sleeper. 
1723      Nov.  10.  Sarah. 


John,  of 


Oct.  12,  1718. 


1677 
1677 
1681 
1692 
1688 
1690 
1691 

1701 
1702 
1706 
1713 
1718 
1718 
1724 
1727 


Smith. 
July  10.  S, 
July  29. 
Aug.  21. 
Oct.  15. 
May  20. 
July  27. 
July  to 
Sept. 
Oct.  5. 
Sept.  20. 
Apr.  14. 
Mar.  22. 
Apr.  6. 
May  11. 
July  5. 
Apr.  2. 


S. 

Mercy. 

Deliverance. 

Jane. 

Mary. 

Eliza. 

Esther. 

Elizabeth. 

Samuel. 

Christian. 

Ralph. 

John. 

Huldah. 

Ann. 


1689[0 

1694[5 

1697. 

1699. 

1701. 

1703. 

1705. 

1707. 

1691. 

1701. 


John,  of    Jane,  Jan.  26, 

Margaret,  of  „  Feb.     3, 

Jane,  of         „  Mar.     6, 

David,  of       „  Aug.  20, 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Sept.    7, 

Elizabeth,  of ,,  Nov.    7, 

Rachel,  of  „  (?)  July  22, 
Sarah,  of  ,,  (?)  May  11, 
Marj^,  of  El.,  Nov.  29, 

James,  of,,  Oct.   19, 

(See  Williams.) 
Rebeckah.  of  Rebec- 

kah,  July  22,  1694. 
Elizabeth,  of    „  Jan.  26,  1695[6 

Grace,  of  Jeremy,       May  17,  1702. 
Samuel,  of  Samuel,    Sept.    8,  1706. 
Sarah,  of  Christian,    Aug.  10,  1707. 
John,  of     John,         Jan.   22,  1715[6 
William,  of     „  Jan.  22,  17 15 [6 

Nathanael,  of  ,,  Mav  25,1718. 

Ruth,  of  „  Juiie  12,  1726. 

Marv,  of  Mar.    8,  1719. 

Josiah,  of  Oct.     2,  1720. 

Nathaniel,  of  Oct.  28,  1722. 

Henry,  of  Ralph,        Oct.  21,  1722. 
John,  of  Ralph 

and  Huldah,  Feb.  28,  1724  [5 
Thomas,  of  Ralph,  Feb.  12,  1726[7 
Huldah,  of  Ralph 

and  Huldah,  Sept.  29,  1728. 
Henry,  of  „  „  Aug.  30,  1730. 

Buchanan,  of  Ralph,  May  28,  1732. 
Ralph,  of  „      Feb.  24,  1733[4 


1677 
1725 


Snelling. 
Apr.  28.  S.  [W.of  John?] 

May     9.  Benja. 


Jane,  of 

John,  of  John  and 

Jane 
Sarah,  of     ,,         „ 
Abra'm,  of  „         „ 
Joseph,  of 
Jane,  of 
Abigail,  of 
Rebeckah,  of 
Isaac,  of 
John,  of 
Robert,  of 
Josiah,  of 
Sarah,  of 

Elizabeth,  of  Margt. 
Elizabeth  of 
Margaret,  of 
James,  of 


Dec.  3,  1693. 


Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Apr. 
Nov. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Jan. 
July 
Jan. 
May 
Apr. 
,  Sept, 
Nov. 
May 
Jan. 


3,  1693. 

3,  1693. 

3,  1693. 

21,  1695. 

10,  1695. 

13,  1697[8 
12,  1699. 

7,  1699[0 
27,  1701. 

16,  1703[4 
12,  1706. 

11,  1708. 

17,  1710. 
9,  1712. 

21,  1715. 

14,  1710[1 


APPENDIX. 


279 


Nathaniel,  of 
Marj',  of 
Mary,  of 
Joseph,  of 


Dec.  28,  1712. 
Nov.  13,  1715. 
Nov.  9,  1718. 
Mar.  13,  1720. 


SOMER. 

1717      Apr.     7.  Mary. 


1770 


SOTER. 

Nov.    4.  Mary. 


SouTER,  or  SowTER,  or  Souther. 
1681      Mar.     1.  Joseph. 

1700      Apr.  21.  Daniel. 


Elizabeth,  of  Feb. 

Lois,  of  Feb. 

Eunice,  of  Feb. 

Joseph,  of  Feb. 

John,  of  Feb. 

Nathanael,  of  Mar. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliz.,  Oct. 

Chris.,  of  Chris.,  Aug. 

Hannah,  of  Oct. 

Mary,  of  Apr. 

Mary,  of  Jan. 

Charles,  of  Apr. 

Ann,  of  July 

Nathaniel,  of  Dec. 

Deborah,  of  Nov. 

John,  of  Nov. 
Joseph, C  twins  of 
Mary,    {    Nathl., 

Sarah,  of  Apr. 
Mary,  of  Christopher,  July 

Elizabeth,  of  Mary,  June 


1695 [6 

169 5 [6 

1695[6 

1695[6 

1695[6 

1696. 

1698. 

1711. 

1713. 

1716. 

1717[8 

1719. 

1721. 

1722. 

1723. 

1723. 


Oct.    11,  1724. 

3,  1726. 

2,  1727. 

29,  1729. 


Spencer,  or  Spincer. 


John,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Nicholas,  of  Mary, 
Mary,  of  „ 

William,  of 
Constantine,  of 
Constantino,  of  B. 


Aug.  8,  1703. 
Apr.  15,  1705. 
May  16,  1708. 
July  11,  1708. 
Oct.  8,  1710. 
Aug.  1,  1714. 
Mar.  24,  1717. 


Sprague. 
Lydia,  of  Nov.    6,  1709. 

Spry. 

1690  May     4.  S.  Purchase. 

1691  July  12.  Henry. 


Purch.,  of  Purchase,  Mar.  22,  1691. 
Ryall,  of  Henry  and 

Purchase,  Feb.  26,  1692[3 
Phinehas,  of  Dec.  16,  1694. 

Mehetabel,  of  July  12,  1696. 


Squire. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,  June  25,  1704. 

T7r'^r,'    <  twins  of      July  15,1705. 
Elizab.,  (  ■'       ' 


ariiaret,  of 


Squm. 


Sept.    8,  1706. 


1719 
1725 


Stacy. 
May  10.  Benjamin. 

May     9.  Remember. 


Sus'h,  of  Remember,  Oct.  24,  1703. 


Peter,  of 
Peter,  of 
Mary,  of 
John,  of 

Sus'h,  of  Abigail, 
Thomas,  of 


Sept.    9,  1705. 
Feb.  16,  1706[7 
Nov.    6,  1709. 
Jan.   26,  17 17 [8 
Apr.  16,  1721. 
June  23,  1723. 


1719 


1721 


1742 


Stanbridge. 
Nov.  22.  Sarah. 

Stanley. 
June    4.  Martha. 

Stanny,  or  Staney. 
Mary. 


Richard,  of  Mary,  Nov.  11,  1722. 

Marv,  of  Apr.  28,  1723. 

Elizabeth,  of  Marj^  Jan.    15,  1726[7 

Joseph,  of         „  Jan.   26,  1728[9 

Katharine,  of    „  Apr.  11,  1731. 


1727 


Stanton. 
Dec.  24.         Katherin. 


1668      Oct. 


Star. 
8.  [Martha.] 


Starkey. 
Thomas,  of  Eliz.,        Apr.  25,  1697. 
Robert,  of     „  Apr.  25,  1697. 

Stearns. 
1742  Sarah. 

Stedman. 
1699      Mav  28.  Hannah. 


Stevens. 


1659  Dec.     4. 

1692  Apr.     3. 

1731  Nov.  21. 

17  38  [9  Feb.  25. 


Sarah. 
Sara. 
Robert. 
Gammon. 


Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Hannah,  of  ,, 


Apr. 
Apr. 


3,  1692. 
3,  1692. 


280 


APPENDIX. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliz., 
John,  of  Grace, 
EUzab.,  of  „ 
Mary,  of     ,, 
Grace,  of  John  and 
Grace, 
Susannah,  of  „     „ 
Gammon,  of  ,,     ,, 
John,  of  Mary, 
David,  of    ,, 
Abigail, of   ,, 
Elizab.,  of  „ 
Mary,  of      „ 
Hannah,  of 
Susannah,  of 
Persis,  of  Erasmus, 
Samuel,  of      ,, 
Persis,  of         „ 
Erasmus,  of    ,, 
Koben,  of 
Eliza,  of 


June  25,  1693. 
July  19,  1696. 
Mar.  24,  1700. 
Mar.  24,  1700. 


Dec. 

Jan. 

July 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Feb. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Sept. 

Feb. 

Jan. 


20,  1702. 
16,  1703[4 

2,  1710. 

6,  1700. 

6,  1700. 

6,  1700. 

6,  1700. 

6,  1700. 
14,  1705. 

2,  1706[7 

24,  1708. 
18,  1709. 

25,  1711. 
6,  1713. 

28,  1713[4 
10, 1719[0 


Stirling. 
William,  of  May  27,  1722. 

Stoddaed. 
1691      June  or  July.  Elizabeth. 
1727 [8  Jan.     7.  Tabitha. 

1741      Dec.  27.  Thomas. 


Children  of  Eliza,  June  14, 

Elizabeth,  of  June  17, 

Thomas,  of  July  16, 

Bartholomew,  of  Apr.  12, 

Sarah,  of  Mar.  26, 

Arthur,  of  June    8, 

Nathl.,  of  Tabitha,  Apr.  26, 

Elizabeth,  of  ,,  July  25, 

Susannah,  of  ,,  Aug.  27, 

Thomas,  of      ,,  July  13, 

Tabitha,  of      „  Sept.  20, 

Sarah,  of  Thomas,  Aug.  20, 
Elizabeth,  of  Mercy,  Sept.  30, 

Patience,  of  Feb.  24, 
Jno.Bently,of  Mercy,  June  19, 


1691. 

1694. 

1699. 

1702. 

1704. 

17C7. 

1724. 

1725. 

1727. 

1729. 

1730. 

1732. 

1733. 

1733[4 

1737. 


1677 
1701 


Nov. 
May 


Stone. 

4.  Daniel. 

4.  Mary. 


Josiah,  of  Mary,  Feb.  14,  1696[7 

William,  of  „  "  Mar.  12,  1699. 

Benjamin,  of  Josiah 

and  Mary,  Dec.     7,  1701. 
Abigail,  of  Feb.     3,  1705  [6 

Mary,  of  Sept.  16,  1722. 

Ruth,  of  Luke,  Sept.  19,  1725. 

Benja.,  of      „  June  11,  1732. 

William,  of  „  Jan.   19,  1734[5 


Margt.,  of  Margaret,  Apr.  30,  1727. 
Margaret,  of  „  Dec.  29,  1728. 
Abigail,  of  Oct.  25,  1730. 

Elizab,  of  Margaret,  May  20,  1739. 


Stoker,  or 
Dorothy,  of 
Dorothy,  of 
Nathaniel,  of  Margt. 
Susannah,  of  Sus., 
John,  of  ,, 

Benjamin,  of 
Margaret,  of 
Ruth,  of 
Priscilla,  of 
James,  of 
Mary,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Jonathan,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Howard,  of  Sarah, 
Abraham,  of 
Isaac,  of 


Stover. 
Oct.  24, 
Mar.  26, 
,Dec.  28, 
Aug.  8, 
Oct.  17, 
July  8, 
Jan.  12, 
Feb.  7, 
June  12, 
Jan.  21, 
Apr.  23, 
Dec.  9, 
Feb.  13, 
Nov.  13, 
Dec.  29, 
Nov.  30, 
Jan.   28, 


1697. 

1699. 

1712. 

1714. 

1714. 

1716. 

1717[8 

1719[0 

1720. 

1721. 

1721. 

1722. 

17 25 [6 

1726. 

1728. 

1729. 

1732[3 


Story,  or  Storie. 
Jane,  of  July    8,  1716. 

Josiah,  of  Mary,  May  28,  1721. 

Strange. 
Sarah,  of  Apr.  12,  1702. 


1725 
1725 


Stratton,  or  Stretton. 
May     2.  Ann. 


June    6. 


Bridget. 


William,  of  El., 
Ruth,  of  Mary, 
Mary,  of  Margt., 
Margaret,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Sebrian,  of 


Jan.  15,  1698[9 
July  26,  1702. 
Oct.  11,  1702. 
Oct.  7,  1705. 
Sept.  6,  1719. 
Feb.   19,  1720[1 


Stride. 
1688      June  17.  Elizabeth. 

1722      Apr.  15.  John. 


Samuel,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Samuel,  of 
John,  of      Jane, 
John,  of  ,, 

Elizabeth,  of ,, 


Mar.  2,  1690. 
Jan.  15,  1692[3 
May  17,  1696. 
July  29,  1716. 
Aug.  18,  1717. 
Mar.     6,  1720. 


Strong. 
Lydia,  of  May  14,  1710. 

Maiy,  of  May  14,  1710. 

John,  of  Nov.  23,  1712. 

James,  of  May     8,  1715. 


APPENDIX. 


281 


Studson,  or  Stutson. 
Susannah,  of  Dec.  26,  1697. 

James,  of  Sept.  17,  1699. 

Lvdia,  of  Jan.     4,  1701[2 

William,  of  Apr.  30,  1704. 

John,  of  Dec.  22,  1706. 


Styles. 


Mary,  of 


Jan.    15,  1698 [9 


Summers. 
1718      Apr.  13.  William. 

Sumner. 


1665 

May  14. 

S. 

1665 

July    2. 

William. 

1675 

Aug.    8. 

William. 

1683 

July  15. 

Hannah. 

1718 

Oct.  26. 

Clement. 

1718 

Oct.  26. 

Margaret 

William,  of  Clem.,  July  15,  1711. 

Margaret,  of      „  July  15,  1711. 

Elizabeth,  of     „  July  15,  1711. 

Samuel,  of        „  July  15,  1711. 

Benjamin,  of     ,,  July  15,  1711. 

Ebenezer,  of      „  Nov.    9,  1712. 

Benjamin,  of  Sept.    8,  1734. 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,  Mar.  16,  1735. 
(belonging  to  the  Church  in  Charlestown.) 

Abigail,  of         „  Aug.  29,  1736. 

Samuel,  of  Samuel,  July  30,  1738. 

Samuel,  of  Abigail,  Nov.    4,1739. 

Daniel,  of  June    6,  1736. 
Mercy,  of  Mercy 

(Melvil),  Apr.  25,  1736. 


1670 


Sunderland. 
B. 


Mary,  of  John  and 

Mary, 
Elizabeth,  of  John, 
Hannah,  of 
Nathaniel,  of  John 
and  Mary, 
Sarah,  of 
Edward,  of 
Nathaniel,  of  John, 
Hannah,  of 


Feb.  4,  169  3  [4 
Feb.  9,  1695 [6 
May  22,  1698. 

June  18,  1699. 
July  21,  1700. 
Nov.  7,  1703. 
Nov.  12,  1704. 
May  11,  1707. 


SWAEN,  or  SWATN. 

1733      Mar.    4.  Benjamin. 

1733      Mar.    4.  Susannah. 


Benjamin,  of  Benj.,    June  11,  1704. 
Susanna,  of  Benj. 

and  Susan,  Jan.     4,  1729[0 
36 


Samuel,  of 


SWASEY. 

July    5,  1713. 


SWETLAND. 

1709      May  22.  Benjamin. 

1709[0  Feb.  19.         Hannah. 

Symonds. 
1693      Nov.  12.         Hanna. 

Talbot. 
1687      Apr.  10.  Christopher. 


Sarah,  of 
Joanna,  of 


Tayler. 

June  22,  1718. 
Mar.  19,  1721. 


Teague  (?),  or  Teayne. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,  June  16,  1723. 

Lydia,  of  June    6,  1725. 

Temple. 
Sr.  Thomas,  June   4,  1670. 

Tha(t)Cher. 
1691      Nov.    1.  Mary. 

1696      May  10.  Ann. 

1698  [9  Jan.  29.  Judah. 

1703      Sept.  26.  Mary. 

Thomas. 
1706      Apr.  28.         William. 
1714[5  Feb.  13.  Mercy. 

1728      Mar.  10.  Joanna. 

1741      Sept.   6.         Silence. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliz.,  May  21,  1693. 

Mercy,  of  „  May  21,  1693. 

Ann,  of  ,,  June  30,  1695. 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,  Sept.  27,  1702. 
William,  of  William,  Jan.   26,  1706[7 
Margaret,  of  Wm. 

and  Abigail,  Mar.    6,  1709. 

William,  of  „  „  Aug.  31,  1718. 

Ann,  of         „  „  June  19,  1720. 

Ann,  of         „  „  Oct.  29,  1721. 

James,  of  Joanna,  Oct.     9,  1720. 

English,  of  Jan.     6,  1722[3 

Love,  of  Mar.  20,  1726. 

George,  of  July  13,  1729. 

Thomson,  or  Thompson. 
1725      Aug.    1.  Susanna. 


Susannah,  of  Sus.,  Aug.  21,  1720. 
Thomas,  of  „  Sept.  5,  1725. 
Benjamin,  of  Benj.,  Oct.  21,  1725. 
Benjamin,  of      „        July  23,  1727. 


282 


APPENDIX. 


Elizabeth,  of  Susan- 
na, Mar.     2,  1729. 
Joseph,  of  Benjamin,  June  22,  1729. 


1677 
1679 
1698 
1737 


Thornton. 
Mar.  23.  B. 

Sept.  14.  S. 

Oct.     1.         Timothy. 
Mar.  27.         Elizabeth. 


Experience,  of 
Timothy,  of  Eliza, 
Danforth,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliza, 
Experience,  of  „ 
Timothy,  of       „ 
Lydia,  of 
Ebenezer,  of 
Gilbert,  of  Eliza, 
Lydia,  of       „ 


Feb. 

Apr. 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Mar. 

Eeb. 

Feb. 

Sept. 

Nov. 

May 

Mar. 


5,  1692[3 
7,  1717. 

1,  1719. 
26,  1721. 
10,  1723. 

7,  17  24  [5 
5,  1726[7 

8,  1728. 

2,  1729. 
28,  1732. 
19,  1738. 


Thwing. 
Mar.  22.  Benjamin. 


1713 

1739  Nov.  18. 
1741  Dec.  20. 
1741 [2  Jan.  17. 


Hannah. 
Bathsheba. 
Bathsheba,  jun. 


John,  of  Benjamin,  June 

John  of            ,,  May 

William,  of     ,,  Aug. 

Bathsheba,  of  „  Jan. 

William,  of     „  May 

Benjamin,  of  Nov. 

Elizabeth,  of  Wm.,  July 

William,  of  Nov. 

Rebeckah,  of  July 

Mary,  of  Mar. 

Thomas,  of  Apr. 

Joseph,  of  July 

Hannah,  of  Dec. 

Bathsheba,  of  Apr. 
Benjamin,  of  Han- 
nah, Dec. 


21,  1713. 

8,  1715. 

2,  1724. 
23,  1725[6 
21,  1727. 

4,  1711. 
31,  1715. 

25,  1716. 
28,1717. 
16,  1718. 

26,  1719. 
31,  1720. 

3,  1721. 
14,  1723. 

9,  1739. 


TiLESTONE. 

James,  of  May  21,  1704. 

John,  of  Jan.   13,  1705[6 

Mary,  of  Dec.  26,  1708. 

Joseph,  of  Aug.  19,  1711. 

TiLY,  or  Tyly. 
1719      Oct.  25.         Elizabeth. 

Tinny. 
1701  [2  Feb.    8.         Hannah. 


Sarah,  of  Sept.   5,  1725. 

Lydia,  of  Eliza,  Aug.  13,  1727. 

Tipper. 
1696      Nov.    8.  Mary. 

TlRRINGTOX. 

Margaret,  of  Jan.   21,  1727[8 

TiTCOMB. 

Mary,  of  Kath.,  Oct.     9,1709. 

TOLMAN. 

Abigail,  of  Oct.  13,  1717. 

TOOKER. 

Joseph,  of  June  26,  1720. 

TORREY. 

1692      Apr.  17.  John. 

Tour. 
1673      Dec.    6.         S. 

Tout,  or  Treat,  or  Trout. 
1688[9  Feb.  17.  Hannah. 

1680      Oct.  27.  Benjamin. 

1715[6  Jan.  22.  Mary. 

1731 [2  Jan.  23.  Joseph. 

Joseph,  of  Hanna,  Dec.  14,  1690. 

John,  of  „  Apr.  10,  1692. 

Elizabeth,  of  „  Feb.     4,  1693 [4 

Elizabeth,  of  Benj.,  May  15,  1692. 

Mary,  of  „  Apr.  28,  1695. 

Mercy,  of  „  May     9,  1697. 

Benjamin,  of    „  Mar.    3,  1700. 

Richard,  of        „  Apr.  25,  1703. 

Mary,  of  Mary,  May    9,1714. 

Abigail,  of  Mar.  11,  1716. 

Joseph,  of  Oct.  23,  1720. 

William,  of  Feb. !  3,  1722[3 

Mary,  of  Mercy,  Aug.    2,1724. 

Thomas,  of  July  16,  1727. 

Joseph,  of  Sept.  24,  1727. 

William,  of  Mary,  Dec.  22,  1728. 

Joshua,  of  Joseph,  Sept.  28,  1729. 
Joseph,  of  Joseph 

and  Mary,  Jan.  23,  1731  [2 

Thomas,  of  Mary,  Apr.  22,  1733. 

of  Mar.  24,  1734. 

Samuel,  of  Joseph,  July  20,  1735. 


Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,    Nov.    8,1719. 
John,  of  Dec.    8,  1723. 


TOWNSEND. 


1681 
1681 
1681 
1681 
1683 


Sept.  18. 
Sept.  18. 
Oct.  30. 
Oct.  30. 
July  29. 


Samuel. 

Elizabeth. 

Thomas. 

Mary. 

Abigail. 


APPENDIX. 


283 


1689 

1691 

1694 

1694 

1694[5 

1696 

1702 

1702[3 

1703[4 

1704 

1705 

1706 

1716 

1716 

1718 

1727 

1732 

1737 

1791 


Mar.  24. 
Mar.  15. 
June  10. 

Feb.  10. 
Aug.  23. 
June  28. 
Jan.  30. 
Jan.  23. 
Aug.  6. 
July  22. 
June  9. 
Oct.  30. 
Oct.  30. 
Mar.  16. 
Dec.  10. 
Nov.  12. 
Mar.  27. 


Samuel. 

Dorothy. 

Ann. 

Judith. 

Susanna. 

Solomon. 

Hannah. 

Elias. 

Thomas. 

Ilebeckah. 

Isaac. 

Alice. 

David. 

Mabel. 

Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth. 

Thomas. 

Sarah. 

Abigail. 


Mary,  of  James,  Feb.  24,  1694 [5 

Kuth,  of         „  Dec.  28,  1712. 

Patience,  of   „  Jan.  29,  17I5[6 

Judith,  of  Judith,  Jan.   17,  1696[7 

Mary,  of  Solomon,  Apr.    2,1699. 

Solomon,  of    „  Oct.  28,  1705. 

Jeremiah,  of    „  Apr.  25,  1708. 

Isaac,  of  Isaac,  July  29,  1705. 

Ebenezer,  of,,  Aug.    7,  1709. 

Jeremiah,  of,,  Nov.  18,  1711. 

Anna,  of       „  July    4,  1714. 

Ebenezer,  of,,  June  24,  1716. 

Solomon,  of  Saml.,  Aug.  24,  1707. 

Samuel,  of  Thomas,  Mar.  13,  1709. 

Samuel,  of         „  Feb.  10,  1711[2 

Martha,  of         „  Dec.  13,  1713. 

Thomas,  of        „  Aug.    7,  1715. 

Hannah,  of        „  July  17,  1720. 

John,  of  „  Sept.  23,  1722. 

Thomas,  of  Thomas 

and  Sarah,  June  19,  1737. 

John,  of         „     „  May  14,  1738. 

Elizabeth,  of  Sept.  13,  1724. 

Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,  Oct.  11,  1724. 

Hannah,  of  Nov.  10,  1695. 

James,  of  Apr.  18,  1697. 

Jonathan,  of  Apr.    3,  1698. 

Agnes,  of  June  26,  1698. 

David,  of  July    2,  1699. 

Joshua,  of  Mar.  16,  1701. 

Peter,  of  Mar.  30,  1701. 

Elisha,  of  Dec.  27,  1702. 

Thomas,  of  Jan.     9,  1703[4 

Elizabeth,  of  May  13,  1704. 

Lydia,  of  May  21,  1704. 

Alice,  of  Oct.  29,  1704. 

Ilebeckah,  of  Apr.     1,  1705. 

Andrew,  of  Nov.  18,  1705. 

William,  of  Dec.  23,  1705. 


Ebenezer,  of 
Sarah,  of 

(of 

Susannah,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Davis,  of 
Priscilla,  of 
Lydia,  of 
Abraham,  of 
James,  of 
Elias,  of  Elias, 
Nathanael,  of 
Rachel,  of 
Mary,  of 
Abranam,  of 
David,  of 
Ann,  of 


Jan. 

Aug. 
Maiden  ) 
Sept. 
Apr. 
July 
July 
Feb. 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Oct. 
July 
July 
May 
Apr. 
Feb. 
Oct. 


6,  1705[6 
25,  1706. 

22,  1706. 
13,  1707. 
18,  1708. 
25,  1708. 

6,  1708[9 
16,  1710. 

23,  1710. 

29,  1710. 
15,  1711. 
18,  1714. 
27,  1716. 
27,  1718. 
10,  1722[3 

30,  1726. 


Treak. 
1672[3  Feb.  12.  S. 


Tbevis. 
1655      Nov.  9,  to 

Junes,  1657.  S. 
1670  or  1671.  Samuel. 

Treworthy. 
Samuel,  of  Mary,       Aug.  21,  1698. 


Trow. 

1681      Mar.    1. 

Mary. 

Ebenezer,  of  Mary, 

July  17, 

1692. 

Hannah,  of       „ 

Oct.  11, 

1696. 

Tucker. 

1691[2  Feb.  14. 

Mary. 

1710      Mar.  19. 

Richard. 

1710      Mar.  19. 

S. 

of  Mary, 

Dec.  18, 

1692. 

Susannah,  of  „ 

Jan.  27, 

1694[5 

Daniel,  of 

Oct.   12, 

1707. 

John,  of 

Oct.     2, 

1709. 

Bethiah,  of  Richard 

Oct.  28, 

1711. 

Mary,  of 

Nov.  23, 

1712. 

Noah,  of  above. 

Nov.  23, 

1712. 

John,  of        „ 

Nov.  23, 

1712. 

Joseph,  of 

Aug.  22, 

1714. 

Noah,  of 

Feb.    2, 

1723[4 

Mary,  of  Margaret, 

June  13, 

1725. 

Tudor. 
Prior  to  1786.  John. 

TUEL. 

Alice,  of  July    9,  1693. 

Baruard,  of  May  14,  1721. 


284 


APPENDIX. 


TUFTON. 

John,  of  Susannah,    May     3,1713. 
Robert,  of       „  June  10,  1716. 

Thomas,  of      „  June  15,  1718. 

Tuke(l)l,  or  TuRiLL,  or  Turyl. 


1664  Dec.  11. 
1672  Sept.  7. 
1684[5  Jan.  18. 
1715[6  Jan.  15. 
1727[8  Jan.  28. 


S. 

Daniel. 

Samuel. 

Joanna. 

Joseph. 


Daniel,  of  Daniel,  Apr.  30 

Joseph,  of  Apr.  30 

John,  of  Apr.  30 
Humphrey,of  Daniel,Sept.  28 

Samuel,  of  Samuel,  Nov.    5 

Mary,  of           „  Jan.  26 

Samuel,  of       „  Apr.    9 

Ebenezer,  of    „  Feb.     8 

Anna,  of  Joanna,  Sept.  14 

Mary,  of  Apr.  24 

Samuel,  of  Joanna,  Mar.  15 

Joseph,  of        „  Mar.    7 

Joanna,  of        „  June  19 

Mary,  of           „  Oct.  22 
Daniel,  of  Joseph 

and  Joanna,  Sept.  22 

Sarah,  of  „       „  Aug.  23 

John,  of     „       „  Aug.  22 

Ebenezer,  of  Jos.,  Mar.    2 


1693. 

1693. 

1693. 

1696. 

1693. 

169o[6 

1699. 

1701 [2 

1718. 

1720. 

1724. 

1725. 

1726. 

1727. 

1728. 
1730. 
1731. 
1735. 


Tyhurst. 
Mary,  of  Mary,  Feb.  11,  1704[5 

Elizabeth,  of  Apr.  14,  1706. 

Tyler. 
1735      June  22.         Thomas. 


John,  of  Deborah, 
Moses,  of 
John,  of 

Mary,  of  Thomas, 
Sarah,  of        „ 
Lucy,  of        „ 


Aug.  18,  1700. 
July  26,  1702. 
Oct.  8,  1704. 
Feb.  27, 1736[7 
Nov.  19,  1738. 
Sept.  14,  1740. 


1690 


Underwood. 
July  13.         Elizabeth. 


Anthony,  of  Eliza., 
Israel,  of  ,, 

William,  of        „ 
John,  of 
Israel,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
John,  of  John, 
Elizabeth,  of,, 
Jane,  of        „ 


July  13, 
July  27, 
Nov.  8, 
Aug.  13, 
July  21, 
Jan.  29, 
Oct.  3, 
Oct.  12, 
May    8, 


1690. 

1690. 

1691. 

1704. 

1706. 

1709[0 

1734. 

1735. 

1737. 


John,  of  John, 
Anthony,  of 


Feb.  11,  1738[9 
July  12,  1741. 


1658      May 


1719 
1780 

John,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Joseph,  of 
William,  of 
William,  of 


XJPSCAL. 

9.         Susannah. 


Uran. 


Sarah. 
Hannah. 


Aug.  24,  1718. 
Aug.  24,  1718. 
Aug.  24,  1718. 
Aug.  23,  1719. 
Sept.  4,  1720. 


Vale. 
Mary,  of  C,  July    9,  1693. 

Edward,  of  Chris- 
topher, AjH-.     7,  1695. 
Christopher,  of  „        Mar.  20,  1698. 
John,  of  „       Mar.  19,  1699. 

Varney,  or  Yerney'. 
1664[5     Jan.  8.  Thomas. 

1694  Marv. 


John,  of  James, 
Pool,  of       ,, 
Jane,  of        ,, 
James,  of 
Lydia,  of  Sarah, 
Mary,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Benjamm,  of , 
Thomas,  of 
John,  of 
John,  of 
Bethesdah,  of 
Mary,  of 


Sept.  26, 
Jan.  14, 
Feb.  28, 
Aug.  11, 
Aug.  17, 
Oct.  2, 
Oct.  22, 
Jan.  4, 
Sept.  26, 
Mar.  17, 
July  4, 
Oct.  23, 
Jan.  20, 


1703. 

1710[1 

1713[4 

1706. 

1707. 

1709. 

1710. 

1712[3 

1714. 

1717. 

1708. 

1709. 

1711[2 


Vaughan. 
1686      Dec.    5.         S. 


John,  of 
Lydia, 
Abigail, 
Elizabeth,  of 
Samuel,  of 


son  of  Marj',  Dec.     8,  1689. 


Apr.  10,  1692. 
Mar.  4,  1694. 
Mar.  8,  1696. 
July  31,  1698. 
Nov.    3,  1700. 


Mary,  of  P., 
Mehetable,  of,, 
Penelope,  of  ,, 
Thomas,  of  H., 
Hannah,  of  „ 
Mary,  of  „ 
Rebeckah,  of 


Veerin,  or  Verin. 


Apr, 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Aug 
Aug 
Aug, 
Jan. 


16,  1693. 
16,  1693. 
16,  1693. 
18,  1695. 
18,  1695. 

18,  1695. 

19,  1695[6 


APPENDIX. 


285 


Abigail,  of 
Mercy,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Mary,  of 


Feb.  20,  1G97[8 
Jan.     5,  1700[1 
Apr.  23,  1704. 
Mar.  19,  1721. 


Venteman. 
Elizabeth,  of  Eliza,    Jan.     9,  1703[4 
Mai-y,  of  July  14,  1706. 

Vernon. 
William,  of  Jane,       June  29,  1740. 

Vial,  or  Viol. 
1682      Apr.    9.         John. 
1682      June   5.         S. 


John,  of  M., 
Mary,  of 
Nathaniel,  of 


Aug.  2,  1696. 
May  28,  1699. 
Sept.  21,  1701. 


ViCCARS. 

Jonathan,  of  Sept.  13,  1719. 


1696 


VODEN. 

May  10.         Abigail. 


Abigail,  of  Abigail,    Mar.    3,1695. 

Wade. 
1708 [9    Feb.  27.        Anna. 


Wadsworth. 


1685  1. 

1688  [9  Feb.  24. 
1688 [9  Feb.  24. 
1706  Sept.  15. 
1716      Sept.  22. 


Timothy. 

Benjamin. 

Susanna. 

Recompence. 

Susanna. 


Timothy,  of  Timothy 

and  Susannah,  Nov.    6,  1692. 
Susannah,  of  Oct.   20,  1695. 

Wager. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,  Aug.  29,  1714. 

Charles,  of  Apr.  29,  1716. 


Mary,  of 


Waits. 


Feb.     3,  1722(3 


Wakefield. 


1682      June    6. 

1682[3 

1706      Mar.  24. 

1716[7  Feb.  10. 

1729[0  Feb.     1. 


Obadiah. 

S. 

Henry. 

Experience. 

Ann. 


Ann,  of  Obadiah,       Dec.     8,1689. 
Anna,  of        „  May  29,  1692. 

Deborah,  of  „  Apr.  21,  1695. 


Ann,  of  Obadiah, 
John,  of  Eliz., 
Thomas,  of 
Deliverance,  of 
Joseph,  of 
Obadiah,  of  Rebeck. 
Rebeckah,  of    „ 
Elizabeth,  of 
Ireland,  of 
Henry,  of  Henry, 
Ann,  of  „ 

Susannah,  of  „ 
Miles,  of 
Samuel,  of 
Benjamin,  of 
Susannah,  of 
John,  of  Ann, 
John,  of 
Abigail,  of 
John,  of 
Miles,  of 

Ebenezer,  of  Exp., 
Experience,  of 
Elizabeth,  of  Exp., 
Joseph,  of 


Feb.  27 
Aug.  19 
Jan.  9 
Aug.  20 
June  15 
,Dec.  20, 
Aug.  31 
July  11 
Aug.  27 
July  15 
Jan.  12 
Aug.  27 
Sept.  30 
July  6 
June  26 
Mar.  18 
Apr.  15 
Oct.  14 
July  6 
May  8 
Mar.  25 
Feb.  17 
Aug.  3 
Nov.  29 
Nov.  27 


1697[8 

1694. 

1697[8 

1699. 

1701. 

1702. 

1707. 

1703. 

1704. 

1705. 

1706[7 

1710. 

1705. 

1707. 

1709. 

1711. 

1711. 

1711. 

1712, 

1715. 

1716. 

1716[7 

1718. 

1719. 

1720. 


Wakeham,  or  Wakum. 
James,  of  Eliz.,  July    5,1696. 

Elizabeth,  of  Feb.  13,  1697[8 

Everil,  of  July     6,  1701. 

Robert,  of  Feb.  21,  1702[3 

Abraham,  of  Mary,    Nov.  23,  1735. 

Waldo. 
1684      Sept.  21.         Rebeccah. 
1725      May     9.  Hannah. 


Sarah,  of  John, 
Benja.,  of     „ 
William,  of  ,, 


Dec.     6,  1691. 
Feb.  24,  1711  [2 
Feb.  14,  1713[4 


Waldron. 
Jacob,  of  July  14,  1723. 

John,  of  Sept.  12,  1725. 

Wales. 
1722      Apr.  15.  Sarah. 

Walker,  or  Waker. 


1666      Sept.  16. 

1682  25. 

1691      Oct.     4. 
1733[4  Jan.     6. 


S.  [Wife  of 

Thomas  ?] 
Susanna. 
Thomas. 
Mary  (bapt.). 


Charles,  of 
Allin,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Deborah,  of 


Apr.  23,  1693. 
Feb.  25,  1699[0 
Feb.  25,  1699[0 
Oct.    12,  1701. 


286 


APPENDIX. 


John,  of  John, 
Joseph,  of  Eunice, 
Eunice,  of        „ 
Elizabeth,  of    „ 
John,  of  ,, 

Sarah,  of  „ 

Thomas,  of  Mary, 
Mary,  of  „ 

John,  of  „ 

William,  of     „ 


June  24, 
Oct.  10, 
Nov.  18, 
Apr.  17, 
June  17, 
May  3, 
Mar.  10. 
Mar.  14, 
Mar.  19, 
May  24, 


1721. 
1731. 
1733. 
1737. 
1739. 
1741. 
1734. 
1736. 
1738. 
1741. 


Waller. 
Marv,  ofMary,  Nov.    6,  1709. 

William,  of  „  Nov.    6,  1709. 

Wall  IS. 
Esther,  of  Christian,  Feb.  19,  1698[9 
Sarah,  of  Apr.  19,  1702. 

Thomas,  of  Aug.  19,  1705. 

John,  of  Christian,     July  25,  1708. 


Jonathan,  of  Aug.  28,  1698. 

(of  Charlestown.) 
Katharine,  of  Jona.,  Dec.  24,  1699. 
Jonathan,  of  May  18,  1701. 

Jonathan,  of  Oct.  24,  1703. 

Joseph,  of  Sarah,        Jan.   17,  1713[4 

Warkman. 
1688      July    6.         Samuel. 


Samuel,  of 


Mar.  17,  1695. 


Warner. 

1655 

Nov.  9,  to 

June  3,  1657.  S. 

1695 

July  28.          Sara. 

1719 

Apr.    5.          William 

1725 

Apr.  11.          Mary. 

1727[8  Jan.     7.         Jonathan. 

William,  of  William,  Apr.  12,  1724. 
Mary,  of  „         Jan.   30,  1725[6 

Benjamin,  of    „         Feb.     4,  1727 [8 
John,  of  „         Mar.  16,  1729. 

Nathaniel,    of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary,  Mar.  29,  1730. 


Abigail,  of  William,  Jan.   23,  1731[2 
Jonathan,  of     „         Apr.  22,  1733. 
Mary,  of  „         Sept.  26,  1736. 

Hannah,  of  William 

and  Mary,  Mar.  18,  1739, 
Mary,  of  Hannah,  July  8,1733. 
Nathl.,  of       „  Mar.    9,  1735. 

Abigail,  of     „  Sept.    4,  1737. 

Mary,  of         „  Apr.  20,  1740. 

AVarren. 
1697      Apr.  11.  Sarah. 


Sarah,  of  Sarah, 
Thomas,  of 


Apr.  18,  1697. 
June  18,  1699. 


Wa9«. 
Wilmott,  of  John,      Feb.  10,  1711[2 

1688[9     Feb.  17.       Hannah. 


1680      Nov. 

Walter. 

2.          Thomas. 

Joseph,  of  Mary, 

Feb.  21, 

1691[2 

1685      Mar. 

1.          Nehemiah. 

John,  of         „ 

Oct.     4, 

1696. 

Rachel,  of  Ad., 

May  17, 

1713. 

William,  of 

Apr.  13,  1707. 

Huldah,  of  Huldah 

June  24, 

1716. 

Mary,  of            „ 

July  24, 

1720. 

Ward. 

Huldah,  of        „ 

Sept.  15, 

1734. 

Abigail,  of 

Aug.  11,  1706. 

Thomas,  of 

Aug.  24, 

1718. 

Thomas,  of 

Nov.  18, 

1722. 

WaRDALE,  01 

(■\v)el(l),  or  WOODALE. 

William,  of 

May  16, 

1725. 

1710      Mar. 

19.          Elizabeth. 

Berry,  of 

Aug.  20, 

1727. 

Watkins. 
1658  Oct.  17.  B. 
1658      Oct.  17.         S. 


1711[2 


Watts. 
Jan.    6.  John. 


Elizabeth,  of  John,    Mar.  30,  1712. 
John,  of  „       Oct.  25,  1713. 

Elizabeth,  of       „       Oct.  16,  1715. 


Way. 


1660[1  Feb.  17. 

1660[1  Feb.  17. 

1660[l  Feb.  17. 

1660[1  Feb.  17. 

1675  Aug.    8. 

1677  Mar.    9. 

1677  Mar.    9. 

1725  Mar.  28. 

1728  May    5. 


Aaron. 

S. 

Richard. 

S. 

Mary. 

William. 

S. 

Eliza. 

Andrew. 


Moses,  of  Moses,  Apr.  28,  1695. 

Samuel,  of      „  July  19,  1696. 

Elizabeth,  of  Dec.  10,  1724. 

Andrew,  of  Feb.  25,  1727[8 


APPENDIX. 


287 


1689[0  Feb.  23. 
1690  Mar.  23. 
1692[3  Jan.  15. 
1695  June  9. 
1714  Sept.  5. 
1791 


Web(b). 


Sara. 

Benjamin. 

Joseph. 

Elisha. 

Christopher. 

Elizabeth. 


Mary,  of  Sarah,  May  31,  1691. 

Hannah,  of  Benjamin 

and  Susannah,  May  20,  1694. 
Benjamin,  of  „     „     Dec.  15,  1695. 
Joseph,  of  Elisha,       Feb.  19,  1698[9 
Elisha,  of        „  Nov.  16,  1701. 

Lydia,  of         „  Sept.  21,  1707. 

Thomas,  of  Mary,  Sept.  17,  1699. 
Joseph,  of  Joseph,  Sept.  14,  1707. 
Mary,  of  „  Oct.     9,  1709. 

Joseph,  of        ,,  Aug.    1,  1714. 

Samuel,  of      „  Oct.  20,  1717. 

Ann,  of  Christopher,  Oct.  24,1714. 
Samuel,  of      „  Oct.     7,  1716. 

Webber. 
1700      June  30.         Mary. 


Mary,  of  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  of 
Mary,  of  Mary, 
William,  of 
Sarah,  of 


Aug.  4,  1700. 
July  25,  1703. 
May  20,  1705. 
Mar.  21,  1708. 
Aug.  30,  1713. 


Webster. 
1664  Mar.  2.  S. 
1727  [8  Jan.     7.         Mary. 


John,  of 
Grant,  of 
Henry,  of 
Esther,  of  Mary, 
Joanna,  of 
Ann,  of 

Joanna,  of  Mary, 
Thomas,  of    „ 


Mar.  7,  1714. 
Feb.  2,  1717[ 
May  15,  1720. 
Mar.  22,  1724. 
June  26,  1726. 
Sept.  17,  1727. 
Oct.  5,  1729. 
Oct.     3,  1731. 


Weeden. 
1691      June  or  July.  Jane. 
1691      Nov.    1.  Ruth. 


Rebeckah,  of  Jane,    Mar.    6,1692. 

Welch. 
1689 [0  Jan.  26.         Elizabeth. 


3  children  of  El. 
Rachel,  of 
Susannah,  of 
William,  of 
Benjamin,  of 


Jan.   26,  1689[0 
Jan.   15,  1692[3 
May  10,  1696. 
Sept.  18,  1698. 
June   8,  1701. 


Ebenezer,  of 
Jonathan,  of 


Jan.  28,  1704[5 
July  20,  1707. 


Welde. 
1719      Mar.  15.         Rebecca. 

Wells. 
Rebec,  of  Rebeckah,  Oct.     6,1700. 
Thomas,  of        „         Jan.     4,  1701  [2 

Wentworth.    (See  Goef.) 
John,  of  Abigail,         Jan.   29,  1720[1 
Benning,  of  „  July     1,  1722. 


1681[2 


West. 


Ann. 


John,  of  Mar.  28,  1697. 

Mary,  of  Mar.    5,  1699. 

Elizabeth,  of  John,  Oct.     9,1737. 

John,  of  „  Apr.    8,  1739. 

Mary,  of  „  Aug.  24,  1740. 

Wharpe,  or  Whorf. 

1690      Jan.  Rebecka. 


Margaret,  of  Martha,  May  19,  1695. 
Susannah,  of     „         Mar.  14,  1697. 

Whately,  or  Wheatly,  &c. 
1717      June  16.  Esther. 

1719      Aug.   2.         Elizabeth. 


Henry,  of 
Henry,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Sarah,  of 


May    5,  1717. 
Feb.  21,  1719[0 
Aug.  12,  1722. 
Apr.  12,  1724. 


Wheeler. 
1691      Mar.  22.         William. 
1691      Nov.    1.  Ann. 

1707      Mar.  16.         Nathanael. 


Ann,  of  William 

and  Ann,  July  24,  1692. 

Hannah,  of  Mar.  17,  1695. 
William,  of  William,  May     2,  1697. 

Jeremiah,  of  Oct.     3,  1697. 

Elizabeth,  of  Mary,  Mar.  12,  1699. 

Nathanael,  of  June    1,  1701. 

Mary,  of  June  13,  1703. 

Abigail,  of  Aug.    5,  1705. 

Amie,  of      Nathl.,  June    1,  1707. 

Susannah,  of    „  May  22,  1709. 

Nathaniel,  of    „  Dec.  30,  1711. 

Thomas,  of        „  Mar.     8,  1713. 

Sarah,  of            „  May  16,  1714. 

Ann,  of              „  Mar.  25,  1716. 

Thomas,  of        „  Aug.  21,  1720. 

Abigail,  of  Oct.  28,  1733. 


288 


APPENDIX. 


Abigail,  of  Abigail,    Aug.  25,  1734. 
Mary,  of  „         Aug.  21,  1737. 


1665 

1672 

1689[0 

1691 

1696 

1697 

1706 

1708 

1710 

1716[7 

1722[3 

1725 

1735 

1773 

1777 


May 
Oct. 
Jan. 
May 
June 
June 
Apr. 
Mar. 
Nov. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
June 
Dec. 
Oct. 
Mar. 


White. 

14.  S. 


20. 
26. 
17. 
22. 
13. 
28. 
28. 

5. 
10. 
20. 

6. 

7. 
31. 
30. 


S. 

Martha. 

Sara. 

Hanna. 

Mary. 

Elizabeth. 

Samuel, 

Benjamin. 

Joseph. 

Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth. 

William. 

Mary. 


Samuel,  of  Ann,         May 
Ann,  of  „  Mar. 

Mary,  of        „  Feb. 

Joseph,  of      „  Apr. 

Prudence,  ^ 
Phillippa,    I     of     ^ 
Samuel,       )■  Han-  ^-June 
Michael,       |    nah,  J 
Nathanael,  J 

Hannah,  of  Apr. 

Lj'dia,  of  Mar." 

Elizabeth,  of  Sept. 

Ann,  of  May 

Joseph,  of  Oct. 

Nathanael,  of  Jan. 

Eliza,  of  Sept. 

Thomas,  of  Mar. 

Ebenezer,  of  Mar. 

Isaac,  of  Rebeckah,    Aug. 
John,  of  „  Dec. 

Mary,  of  Sept. 

Joseph,  of  Nov. 

Benja.,  of  Benjamin,  Sept. 
John,  of  ,,  Dec. 

Elizabeth,  of  Dec. 

Anna,  of  Apr. 

John,  of  June 

John,  of  Nov. 

James,  of  Apr. 

Benjamin,  of  Joseph,  May 
John,  of  „         Mar. 

Martha,  of  Joseph 

and  Elizabeth,  Aug. 
John,  of  ,,         ,,         Aug. 
Mary,  of  Joseph,         Oct. 
Mary,  of  Joseph 

and  Eliza,  Aug. 
Nathaniel,  of  Jos.,  Oct. 
Hannah,  of        „        Dec. 


1694. 
1696. 
1697[8 
1702. 


28, 1696. 


1698. 

1700. 

1700. 

1702. 

1703. 

1705 [6 

1707. 

1708. 

1710. 

1712. 

1714. 

1713. 

1714. 

1715. 

1716. 

1716. 

1717. 

1719. 

1719. 

1722. 

1722. 

1724. 

1725. 
1726. 
1727. 

1730. 
1731. 
1732. 


Isaac,  of  Joseph 

and  Eliza,  July  14,  1734. 
Frances,  of  „  „  Oct.  5,  1735. 
Ann,  of  Joseph,  Oct.     7,1739. 

Samuel,  of  Samuel,    Aug.  19,  1722. 
Elizabeth,  of  Samuel 

and  Eliza,  Feb.     2,  1723  [4 
John,  of  Samuel,        July  25,  1725. 
Francis,  of  Samuel 

and  EUza,  Apr.  16,  1727. 
Elizabeth,  „         „       Feb.     2,  1728[9 
Samuel,  of  Mary 

(formerly  Norvel),  Oct.  21,  1738. 

Whitehead. 

Sarah,  of  Jan.  2,  1714[5 

Samuel,  of  Feb.  9,  1717[8 

Mary,  of  May  8,  1720. 

Whiting. 
1719      May  10.         David. 


Whitfield,  of  David, 

May     9, 

1725. 

Whittamore. 

John,  of 

May  16, 

1714. 

Daniel,  of 

Feb.     5, 

1715[6 

Elizabeth,  of 

June  24, 

1716. 

Joel,  of  Pelatiah, 

Dec.  16, 

1716. 

Samuel,  of 

Aug.  11, 

1717. 

Edward,  of 

Aug.  21, 

1718, 

Sarah,  of 

Mar.     5, 

1721. 

Ruth,  of 

July  31, 

1726. 

Joseph,  of  Ruth, 

June  18, 

1727. 

Whittengam. 

1697[8  Feb.  20. 

Richard 

Whittredge. 
Phebe,  Jan.  14,  1693[4 

Susanna,  of  above,     Jan.   14,  1693[4 
Richard,  „         Jan.   14,  1693[4 

Mary,  of  „         Feb.  11,  1693[4 

Susannah,  of  Richard 

and  Phebe,  Mar.    8,  1696. 
Phebe,        „      „       Apr.  16,  1699. 

Whitwell. 
1661      Mar.  10.  S. 

1673      Apr.    6.  S. 

Prior  to  1786.  Mary. 

WiAR,  or  WiER,  or  Wver. 
1711      June   3.         Mary. 


Daniel,  of  Lydia,        Oct.  20,  1700. 
Lydia,  of       „  Sept.  14,  1707- 

Elias, 
Hannah, 


jDaniel,^«^-ll'^'«^f^ 


APPENDIX, 


289 


Mary,  of  Dec.  23,  1705. 

(of  Concord.) 

Ruth,  of  Dec.    5,  1708. 

Mary,  of  Oct.   16,  1709. 

Lydia,  of  Sept.  21,  1712. 

Ephraim,  of  Aug.    2,  1713. 

Joseph,  of  Mar.  10,  1717. 

Wiener. 
Stephen,  of  June  20,  1714. 

Wilder. 
Susannah,  of  Nov.  29,  1713. 


1681 
1695 


WiLKINS. 

Mar.    1.  Susanna. 

June  30.         John. 


Susanna,  of  Susanna,  Apr.  14,  1690. 
Susannah,  of  John,    Feb.  27,  1697[8 
John,  of  „  Oct.  22,  1699. 

Joseph,  of  Oct.   19,  1701. 

Elizabeth,  of  John,     Jan,  23,  1703[4 

WiLLARD. 

1716[7     Jan.  20.        Daniel. 


Katharine,  of  Daniel 

and  Abigail,  Aug.  4,  1717. 
Abigail,  of  „  „  Nov.  2,  1718. 
Mary,  of  „  „  Mar.  6,  1720. 
Ann,  of  Daniel,  May  26,  1723. 

WXLLER. 

1709[0     Feb.  19.        Mary. 


1681 


WiLLET,  or  WiLLETT. 

May  29.  Sarah. 


Sarah,  of  Susannah,  May    5,  1695. 
Andrew,  of  Oct.  23,  1698. 

Mary,  of  Nov.  23,  1701. 

Joseph,  of  May     7,  1704. 

Mary,  of  William,      Mar.  17,  1706. 
William,  of    „  July  13,  1707. 

Mary,  of         „  Sept.    4,  1709. 

Mary,  of  Thomas,      May  29,  1709. 
Thomas,  of  Oct.   14,  1711. 

Thomas,  of  Thomas,  Oct.   12,  1712. 
Sarah,  of  Apr.  25,  1714. 

Martha,  of  May  16,  1714. 

Sarah,  of  June  17,  1716. 

John,  of  Sept.    9,  1716. 

William,  of  Martha,  Nov.    4,  1716. 
Stephen,  of  Aug.  24,  1718. 

William,  of  Aug.  28,  1720. 


1655 


Williams. 
Nov.    9,  to 
June3, 1657.  S. 

37 


1693 
1725 


Sept.  24. 
May    9. 


Joanna. 
Elizabeth. 


Bridget,  of  El.  Smith.Nov. 
Abraham,  of  „  „  Nov. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  ,,  Nov. 
Elizabeth,  of  Sarah,  May 


James,  of 
Abraham,  of 
Sarah,  of 
Ann,  of  Ann, 
Benjamin,  of 
Phebe,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 
Alexander,  of 
Nathaniel,  of 
Rachel,  of 
Alexander,  of 
Mary,  of 
John,  of 
John,  of 


May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

May 

May 

May 

Feb. 

July 

Sept. 

May 

Oct. 

Mar. 

May 


1691. 

1691. 

1691. 

1695. 

1697. 

1699. 

1702. 

1711. 

1712. 

1713. 

1714. 

1715[6 

1716, 

1717. 

1718. 

1719. 

1722. 

1724, 


Willis,  or  Wills. 


1650  June   5, 

1658[9  Jan.  16, 

1677  Mar.  23. 

1715[6  Feb.  12. 


Michael. 
S.  Wills. 
Elizabeth  Wills. 
Mary. 


William,  of 


Sept.  13,  1713. 


Wilson. 
1689[0  Jan.  26.  Bethia, 

1691  May  17. 
1691  June  7. 
1693      Dec.  24. 


1725      May    2, 
1727      Nov,  12, 


Mary, 

Andrew. 

Joseph. 

William. 

Mary. 


Three  children  of 

Bethiah,  Jan.  26,  1689[0 
David,  of  Andrew 

and  Bethiah,  Dec.  27,  1691. 

Mercy,  of  Andrew,    Feb.  18,  1693[4 

Abigail,  of  Abigail,    May  16,  1697. 

Eliza,  of  Andrew,      Feb.  25,  1704[5 
Rebeckah,  of  Wm.,   Mar.    9,1718. 

WiNSLEY. 

1691      Nov.  29.         Mercy. 
1694[5  Feb.  10.  Hopestill. 

1700      Apr.  21.         Sarah. 

WiNSLOW. 

1780      Apr.  23.  Sarah. 


John,  of  Sarah, 
Penel.,  of    „ 


July  25,  1703. 
May  13,  1705. 


290 


APPENDIX. 


Winter. 
1709      Nov.    6.         Mehetabel. 
1730      Mar.     1.  William. 

1734      Sept.  29.  Martha. 

1737      Apr.  10.  William. 


Edward,  of 

Oct.  28, 

1711. 

Martha,  of 

Nov.  29, 

1719. 

Edward,  of 

Julv  23, 

1721. 

Joshua,  of 

Dec.     8, 

1723. 

Edward,  of 

June  19, 

1726. 

William,  of  William 

Apr.    8, 

1739. 

WiNTHROP. 

1682      Apr.  30. 

Adam. 

1682      Apr.  30. 

S. 

1705      Mar.    4. 

Adam. 

1706      Nov.  10. 

Ann. 

1727      Nov.  19. 

Ann. 

1736      Apr.  25. 

Samuel. 
June  25, 

Ann,  of  Adam, 

1704. 

Adam,  of    „ 

Aug.  18, 

1706. 

Ann,  of  Adam  and 

Ann, 

Sept.  21, 

1707. 

Ann,  of       „         „ 

Aug.  14, 

1709. 

John,  of      „         ,, 

Dec.  16, 

1711. 

John,  of      „         „ 

Mar.  15, 

1713. 

John,  of  Adam, 

Dec.  12, 

1714. 

Samuel,  of  Adam 

and  Ann 

June  17, 

1716. 

William,  of     „     „ 

July    7, 

1717 

Mary,  of  Adam, 

Aug.  31, 

1718. 

Mary,  of  Adam  and 

Ann 

Sept.  27 

1719 

Lucy,  of  Adam, 

Aug.  27, 

1721 

William,  of  „ 

Dec.     1 

1723 

Mary,  of  Adam  and 

Ann 

Mar.  28, 

1725 

WiSWAL. 

Elizabeth,  of  Peleg,   Nov.    6,1720. 
Daniel,  of  „       Eeb.  17,  1722[3 

Priscilla,  of        „      Dec.  19,  1725. 

Wood,  &c. 
1692      May  29.         Abigail. 


John,  of  Richard 

Woods,  Nov.  20,  1715. 
Mary,  of  July  21,  1717. 

Thomas,  of  Richard 

Woode,  Oct.  6,  1717. 
Sarah,  of  Sarah,         Apr.  12,  1724. 

WOODBERRY. 

Hannah,  of  Hannah,  Feb.  20,  1714[5 
Andrew,  of        „       Apr.  29,  1716. 
William,  of        „       June   2,  1717. 


1786 


Woodman. 

Abigail. 


Woodward. 
1690      May  25.  Mary. 

1768      June  10.  Mary. 


Elizabeth,  of  Pris- 
cilla, Nov.  18,  1711. 
Nathaniel,  of    „         Oct.  18,  1713. 
Samuel,  of  Sept.  18,  1715. 

WoODWEIi. 

1716      Nov.  25.         Joseph. 

WORMWELL. 

1725      Nov.  14.         Hannah. 


Daniel,  of  Hannah,    May  13,  1711. 
Lydia,  of         „  May  13,  1711. 

WORTHYLAKE. 

1696      June  22.  Sara. 

Wright. 
Marv,  ofMary,  Apr.    3,1720. 

William,  of  Mar.  31,  1723. 

Elizabeth,  ofMary,    Jan.  24,  1724[5 
Sarah,  of  „        Jan.  24,  1724[5 

Wykes. 
1689      Sept.   8.         Deliverance. 


William,  of  Deliv.,     Feb.  23,  1689[0 
Jane,  of  „         Apr.    3,  1692. 

Ebenezer,  of  „  Nov.  26,  1693. 
Elizabeth,  of  „  Oct.  28,  1694. 
Hannah,  of  Ebenezer 

and  Deliverance,  Jan.   12,  1695[6 
Elizabeth,  of  Deliv.,  July  18,  1697. 
Ebenezer,  of      „        Sept.  24,  1699. 


1714 


Years. 
May  30.         Mary. 


Sarah,  of  Mary,  June  13,  1714. 

Mary,  of  Nov.  27,  1715. 

Charles,  of  Feb.  17,  1716[7 


Yeats. 


John,  of 
Hannah,  of 
Thomas,  of 
Benjamin,  of 


Sept.  22,  1723. 
Sept.  22,  1723. 
Mar.  20,  1726. 
Oct.     8,  1727. 


Young. 
Robert,  of  Lydia,       Feb.     8,  1735[6 


APPENDIX. 


291 


BLANK. 


1707  Nov.  9. 
1709[0  Jan.  22. 
1727[8  Jan.  7. 
1727[8  Feb.  4. 
1740[1  Feb.  15. 


Benjamin,  of 
Elizabeth,  of 


Desire. 

Deliverance. 

Joanna. 

Edward. 

AbiKail. 


July  27,  1690. 
Jan.   15,  1698[9 


Eliphal,  of 
John,  of 
Ann,  of 
Jane,  of  Eli., 
Mercj',  of 
John,  of 
William,  of 
Ann,  of 
James,  of 


Jan.   15,  1698[9 
Jan.   15,  1(398[9 
Jan.    15,  1698[9 
Feb.  25,  1704[5 
Oct.     7,  1711. 
Jan.     3,  1713[4 
Nov.  30,  1718. 
Dec.  30,  1722. 
July  25,  1725. 


In  the  foregoing  catalogue,  the  letters  B.  and  f?.,  whicli  often  occur,  stand  for  Brother 
and  Sister  of  the  church. 


CHURCH    CENSURES. 

CURIOUS     CASE     OF     JOHN      FARNUM. 

Increase  Mather  writes  in  the  Church  Records  :  "  Concerning 
censures,  through  the  merciful  and  gracious  providence  of  Christ, 
the  church  hath  been  but  twice  put  upon  that  work  since  I  was 
related  to  them.  One  sister  hath  been  cast  out  of  the  communion, 
and  one  brother,  viz.,  John  Farnum,  which  is  the  more  sad  because 
he  was  one  of  the  first  members  in  the  church.  Having,  in  the 
time  of  it,  kept  a  faithful  narrative  of  the  procedure  against  him,  I 
cause  it  to  be  inserted  here." 


"  MATTERS   OF   OFFENCE  AGAINST   JOHN   FARNUM. 

"I.  He  hath  offended  in  breaking  the  rule  of  truth,  and  that  in  more  par- 
ticulars than  one.  1.  In  saying  to  many  that  he  desired  a  church-meeting, 
but  was  denied  it.  2.  In  affirming  that  Thomas  Gold  was  cast  out  of  the 
church  of  Charlestowa  by  Mr.  Simms  and  Mr.  Shepard,  against  the  consent 
of  the  major  part  of  the  church  ;  and  that  it  was  a  wicked  act  of  them  that 
did  it.  Thus  he  affirmed  to  the  teacher  alone.  And  after  that,  upon  the 
same  day,  to  diverse  (Brother  Gibson  and  Brother  Wills)  of  the  brethren. 
And  after  that,  to  the  pastor  and  teacher  both  together.  3.  That  Thomas 
Gold  desired  to  know  whether  he  were  a  member  of  the  church  of  Charles- 
town,  and  they  would  give  him  no  answer.  Now,  in  these  particulars,  he 
hath  violated  the  rules  of  God's  word.  Exod.  xx.  16.  Eph.  iv.  25. 
Psalm  XV.  3. 

"  n.  Another  evil  which  he  is  guilty  of  is  rash  and  sinful  judging,  and 
that  of  a  whole  church  of  Christ,  having  condemned  the  whole  church  of 
Charlestown  of  irregular,  rash,  wicked  proceeding  (those  being  his  words)  ; 


292  APPENDIX. 

and  that,  too,  before  he  hath  heard  the  church  speaking  for  themselves, 
contrary  to  Matt.  vii.  1.   James,  iv.  11.   Proverbs,  xvii.  15. 

"  III.  He  is  an  offender  also  by  breaking  covenant  with  the  church, 
and  becoming  guilty  of  schism .  When  he  joined  to  the  church ,  he  promised 
(yea,  and  set  his  hand  to  that  covenant)  to  walk  with  the  church  in  all  the 
ordinances  of  God  ;  whereas  he  hath  forsaken  aU  the  ordinances  of  God  with 
the  church,  being  wont  upon  the  Lord's  day  to  forsake  the  public  assembly 
and  go  to  another  disorderly  meeting,  and  turneth  his  back  upon  the  table 
of  the  Lord,  as  well  as  upon  the  word  and  prayer.  In  this  respect  he 
hath  greatly  transgressed  against  the  Lord,  and  broken  many  holy  precepts 
of  the  word.  1  Cor.  i.  10.  Gal.  v.  12.  Rom.  xvi.  17.  Heb.  x.  25. 
John,  ii.  19.    Gen.  xvii.  14.    Matt,  xsviii.  20.    1  Cor.  xi.  22. 

"IV.  He  hath  offended  God  and  liis  people  by  holding  such  commu- 
nion with  excommunicate  persons  as  Avhereby  he  doth  manifest  his  approval 
of  that  state  and  way  which  such  persons  are  in.  By  this  evil  practice  he 
hath  grieved  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  gone  directly 
against  the  rule,  2  Thess.  iii.  6, 14.  Matt,  xviii.  17.  It  must  ajipear  that 
such  persons  were  unjustly  censured,  before  such  communion  can  lawfully 
be  maintained  with  them. 

"  V.  Unto  all  these  his  evils  he  hath  added  contumacy  and  hardness  of 
heart.  For  when  the  elders  told  him  (when  he  was  before  them)  that  his 
carriages  and  speeches  were  offensive,  he  replied  to  them  that  they  might 
be  offended  at  a  thousand  things,  if  they  wanted,  he  cared  not;  and  also  said 
to  them  at  the  same  time,  that  there  was  never  an  elder  in  the  country  that 
would  have  any  one  read  the  Scriptures  beside  themselves.  Thus  transgressing 
the  commandment,  Exod.  xx.  12.  1  Tim.  v.  1,  17.  Heb.  xiii.  17.  1  Thess. 
V.  12,  13  ;  as  well  as  violating  the  rule  of  truth  in  this  unworthy  and 
most  sinful  charge  against  many  renowned  men  of  God. 

' '  These  matters  of  offence  were  distinctly  and  particularly  mentioned 
by  the  officers  at  a  church-meeting,  6th  of  7th  moneth,  1665  ;  and  pressed 
upon  the  conscience  of  the  offender,  showing  him  what  rules  of  the  word 
he  had  transgressed  in  every  of  these  particulars.  He  justified  himself  in 
what  he  nad  said  and  done  :  only  he  said,  as  to  his  judging  the  church  of 
Charlestown,  he  might,  through  zeal  and  passion,  go  a  little  beyond  bounds, 
for  his  impudence  wherein  he  was  sorry.  Whereupon  the  church  declared 
themselves  unsatisfied  with  him,  and  appointed  him  to  attend  the  church 
at  another  meeting ;  in  the  mean  time  waiting  to  see  if  the  Lord  would 
give  him  repentance  unto  life.  He  told  the  church  he  would  not  promise 
to  meet  them  again. 

"  Upon  the  15th  7  mo.  the  church  met  again,  when  the  former  evils 
wei?e  severally  again  repeated  to  the  offending  party,  and  another  thing  was 
then  alleged,  viz.,  that  he  had  spoken  falsely  against  his  conscience  in  re- 
porting that  the  teacher  forbad  him  from  coming  to  the  Lord's  table,  and 
that  therefore  he  forbore  coming.    At  fijrst  he  would  not  own  that  he  had 


APPENDIX.  293 

80  spoken  ;  but  two  of  the  church-members,  Brother  Wills  and  Sister  Wil- 
liams, did  witness  to  his  face  that  he  had  so  said  unto  them  ;  whereupon  he 
owned  that  in  that,  as  well  as  in  other  respects,  he  had  spoken  falsely  and 
wickedly.  But  he  added  withal,  that  the  church  must  not  eocpect  that  he 
should  whine  and  blubber  and  keep  a  stirr.  Which  words,  considering  also 
the  manner  how  he  expressed  them,  gave  the  church  cause  to  fear  that 
his  verbal  confession  of  his  evil  (so  far  as  he  did  confess)  was  not  from  the 
spirit  of  unfeigned  repentance.  There  was  more  time  given  him  to  con- 
sider of  his  evU,  that  if  possibly  the  church  might  gain  his  soul  from  the 
snares  of  sin  and  Satan  and  death. 

"  Upon  16  of  8  mo.  the  church  met  again.  The  pastor  declared  to  the 
peccant  brother,  that  the  church  now  expected  a  manifestation  of  repent- 
ance, and  hoped  that  the  Lord  would  now  help  him  in  it,  inasmuch  as  the 
church  had  exercised  much  patience  towards  him.  He  replied,  saying, 
'J  desire  none  of  your  patience,  and  have  nothing  to  say  to  you  but  what  I 
have  said  formerly ,  and  that  God  has  humbled  me  for  my  sins,  and  I  have 
peace  of  conscience.'  The  teacher  told  him  his  evils  were  such  as  must 
be  wayled  with  brokeness  of  heart.  He  replied,  'My  heart  is  broken.' 
Whereupon  the  teacher  rejoined,  '  But,  brother,  we  must  see  it  broken,  by 
the  fruits  and  efiects  of  it.'  To  whom  the  offender  answered,  '■You  shall 
not  see  it.''  '  Nay,'  said  the  teacher,  '  but  we  must  see  it,  or  how  can  we 
receive  satisfaction? '  Whereupon  he  replied  again,  with  great  bitterness, 
'  You  see  it !  You  shall  never  see  it ! '  Then  some  of  the  brethren  told  him 
his  carriage  and  speeches  were  very  sinful  and  offensive,  and  they  had  not 
seen  the  like.  Unto  them  he  replied,  '/  did  not  come  here  to  be  snapt  and 
snuVd  and  snarled  at  hy  every  one.'  Then,  turning  his  back  to  go  away, 
the  pastor  said  to  him,  '  Brother  Farnum,  in  the  name  of  the  church  and 
in  the  name  of  Christ,  whose  church  we  are,  you  are  required  to  stay  and 
hear  what  further  we  have  to  say  unto  you.'  He  replied,  'Don't  use  the 
name  of  Christ  to  ine;  I  am  not  one  that  can  stoop  and  bow  to  every  one,^ 
and  flung  himself  away,  refusing  to  hear  the  church  and  officers  solemnly 
speaking  to  him  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  After  that  he  was  gone, 
the  church  resolved  to  send  two  brethren  to  call  him  back  again  from  his 
own  house,  and,  if  he  came,  to  lay  him  under  a  solemn  admonition.  When 
the  brethren  came  to  him,  he  told  them  he  should  be  glad  if  the  church 
ivould  censure  him ;  for  then  he  should  leave  them,  and  have  a  better 
society.  Upon  his  coming,  the  pastor,  in  the  name  of  Christ  and  the 
church,  solemnly  admonished  him  to  repent  of  the  evils  which  he  had  been 
convicted  of.  After  the  admonition,  he  said,  '  You  may  proceed  to  censxire 
me,  if  you  please  :  I  desire  none  of  your  patience.'  The  teacher  saying  to 
him,  '  The  Lord  humble  you  and  pardon  you,'  he  replied,  '  And  the  Lord 
humble  the  church,  for  I  think  they  have  need  enough  of  it,'  and  so  flung 
out  of  the  door  in  a  very  scornful  manner. 

"  Upon  13th  of  10  mo.  the  church  met  again,  to  see  what  effect 


294  APPENDIX. 

the  admonition  which  was  laid  ujDon  him  might  have.  He  presented  a 
paper,  wherein  were  some  general  acknowledgments  of  his  evil,  and 
some  passages  that  were  untrue,  and  more  offensive.  The  church  was  not 
wiUing  to  take  notice  of  his  paper,  but  declared  that  they  expected  a  real 
and  cordial  repentance.  He  confessed  in  words  that  he  was  to  blame  in  re- 
porting untruly  of  ]\Ir.  Simms  and  Mr.  Shepard,  and  in  disorderly  carriage 
when  he  was  last  before  the  church  ;  but  as  to  the  evil  of  his  schism,  cove- 
nant-breaking, disorderly  maintaining  communion  with  excommunicated 
persons,  he  would  own  no  guilt  as  to  those  particulars.  Also,  when  he 
confessed  his  evil  in  other  matters,  he  turned  about  and  laughed,  which 
was  very  offensive  unto  the  church. 

"  Upon  5th  of  11  mo.  the  church  met  again.  He  gave  no  satisfaction 
to  the  church,  but  had  diverse  passages  which  were  more  offensive.  This 
day  he  denied  that  he  had  so  spoken  concerning  Mr.  Simms  and  Mr. 
Shepard,  as  formerly  he  had  been  convicted  of,  and  also  had  confessed  his 
evil  in  such  speeches. 

"  Upon  16th  of  12  mo.  He  acknowledged  evils  and  miscarriages  in  the 
general.  This  day,  when  the  pastor  was  preaching  about  infant-baptism, 
he  was  observed  to  go  out  of  the  meeting-house  in  such  a  manner  as  was 
uncomely  and  offensive.  The  teacher  asked  him  before  the  church 
whether  he  had  any  just  cause  to  go  out  of  the  assembly,  or  whether  he 
did  it  not  in  contempt  of  the  word  which  was  speaking ;  unto  which  he 
would  give  no  answer.  The  teacher  urged  him  (so  did  the  brethren,  some 
of  them),  saying,  '  If  you  should  ask  me  such  a  question,  I  would  answer 
yoM.'     Yet  he  would  give  no  answer. 

"  Upon  30th  of  1  mo.  1666,  the  church  met  again  to  wait  for  the  re- 
pentance of  the  offending  party.  The  pastor  declared  particularly  what 
his  offences  were.  He  would  not  faU  under  a  sense  of  his  evils,  but  said, 
'  that  as  for  his  turning  his  back  upon  the  word  when  the  pastor  was 
preaching,  if  he  heard  such  a  matter  again,  it  may  be  he  might  do  the 
like  again  ;  and  that  the  church  should  do  four  things,  or  else  Ae  would  not 
have  communion  with  them:  1.  They  must  set  up  the  ordinance  of  pro- 
phecy;  2.  They  must  not  baptize  infants;  3.  They  must  aU  be  baptized 
themselves ;  4.  They  must  put  away  their  teacher,  and  not  own  him  for 
an  officer.' 

"  The  teacher  having  declared  unto  the  church  the  heinousness  of  those 
evils  which  tliis  impenitent  offender  was  guilty  of,  and  that  therefore  the 
rule  of  Christ  did  require  that  there  should  be  a  procedure  unto  the  high- 
est censure  ;  after  that  the  teacher  had  ended  his  speech  in  endeavoring  to 
clear  up  the  rule  before  the  chm'ch,  tliis  offending  party  made  a  leg  to  him 
in  a  way  of  scorn  and  derision  before  the  church.  For  which  contempt 
and  profaneness  of  spii-it  in  not  considering  the  presence  of  God,  angels 
and  saints,  before  whom  he  was  then  standing  as  a  delinquent,  he  was  by 
the  pastor  reproved.    The  issue  of  this  meeting  was,  that  the  church  unani- 


APPENDIX.  296 

mously  concluded  that  they  must,  in  the  fear  and  name  of  the  great  God 
and  our  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  proceed  unto  the  sad  and  dreadful  censure 
of  excommunication  ;  only  they  declared  that,  if  before  the  22d  of  2d  month 
he  manifested  repentance,  that  sorrowful  woi*k  would  be  gladly  prevented. 

"  Upon  22d  of  2d  month.  In  the  public  congregation,  the  teacher 
having  preached  two  sermons  on  Matt,  xviii.  18,  the  said  John  Farnum 
was  called  forth.  (N.B.  He  sat  in  the  highest  gallery  [there  were  two, 
one  above  the  other],  where  few  in  the  meeting-house  could  see  him ;  and, 
when  the  pastor  spake  to  him  to  come  down,  he  replied,  '  You  may  speak 
to  ?ne  here,  if  you  have  any  thing  to  say  to  me:  I  can  hear  you  well  enough.'' 
And  it  was  a  long  time  before  he  would  vouchsafe  to  come  down.)  It  was 
put  to  him  in  the  face  of  the  congregation,  that  if  he  had  an  heart  given  to 
liim  to  repent  of  his  evils,  in  breaches  of  the  ninth  commandment  and  of 
the  fifth  commandment,  as  also  of  his  breach  of  covenant,  his  schism,  his 
disorderly  walking  in  holding  irregular  communion  with  censured  persons, 
before  it  did  appear  that  they  were  unjustly  censured,  &c.,  that  then  the 
sad  sentence  of  being  delivered  unto  Satan  should  be  prevented.  He  said 
'  that  he  was  guilty  of  no  such  evils,  and  that  we  cast  him  out  only  for  his 
conscience,  because  he  was  against  the  baptism  of  infants.'  It  was  replied 
to  him  that  he  might  be  oithat  opinion  still;  and,  if  he  would  walk  as  did 
become  the  gospel,  no  censure  should  be  laid  upon  him  for  his  opinion,  for 
there  are  diverse  in  the  church  of  that  opinion,  whose  cliildren  were  never 
baptized,  and  we  are  far  from  censuring  of  them. 

"  He  used  diverse  unseemly  speeches  and  carriages  in  the  meeting- 
house, saying  to  the  pastor  and  the  church,  '■Much  good  may  your  baptism 
do  you .' '  in  a  light  manner  expressing  it.  Likewise  he  smiled  and  laughed 
in  the  face  of  the  congregation,  which  occasioned  the  teacher  to  say, 
'  "What  a  sad  spectacle  is  here !  A  poore  creature  ready  to  be  delivered 
up  into  the  hands  of  Satan,  to  be  bound  in  heaven  and  earth  ;  and  yet  his 
heart  is  so  strangely  besotted  and  hardened  with  guilt  and  sin,  and  the 
wrath  of  God  against  his  soul,  that  he  even  laugheth  at  the  calamity  which 
is  coming  upon  him ! ' 

"  At  the  last  he  turned  about  and  smiled,  saying,  '■The  place  is  too  hot 
for  me.''  By  which  words  he  caused  many  vaine  youths  to  burst  forth  into 
an  open  laughter  in  the  midst  of  a  work  so  awfuU  and  dreadfuU,  and  went 
to  go  out  of  the  congregation.  The  pastor  required  him,  in  the  name  of 
Christ,  to  stay ;  but  he  refused  to  hear  the  church,  and  went  away  out  of 
the  congregation.  When  he  was  gone,  the  pastor  did,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  Judge  of  quick  and  dead,  deliver  this  impenitent  and  pro- 
fane offender  unto  Satan,  for  the  destruction  of  the  flesh,  that  the  spirit 
might  be  saved.  Now,  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan,  whose  at  present  he  is, 
the  Lord,  if  it  be  possible,  deliver  liim." 

This  sentence  was  delivered  in  1666.     Nothing  more  is  heard 


296  APPENDIX. 

of  the  offender  for  about  seventeen  years.  The  next  and  final 
notice  of  him  is  the  following,  in  Increase  Mather's  handwriting : 

"  On  the  31  day  of  the  6  mo.  1683,  John  Farnum  came  to  me  with 
brother  CoUicot,  expressing  his  desires  of  returning  to  communion  with  this 
church  again.  The  next  Lord's  day  I  acquainted  the  brethren  with  liis 
motion,  who,  upon  the  reading  of  his  confession,  were  willing  he  should  be 
readmitted,  provided  he  did  publicly  owne  it.  The  next  Lecture-day" 
(Thursday  lecture)  "  I  read  his  confession  amongst  the  ministers  who  met 
at  Mr.  Willard's.  None  of  the  elders  there  present  objected  against 
receiving  him  ;  but  Mr.  Eliot  said  that  he  thought  the  church  would  sin  if 
they  did  not  receive  him  upon  that  acknowledgment.  September  9, 1683 : 
His  confession  was  read  in  the  public  congregation,  owned  by  himself,  and 
accepted  by  the  church ;  so  that  the  censure  was  then  taken  of,  and  he 
received  to  communion.     His  confession  was  in  these  words  following :  — 

"  '  God  hath  convinced  me  of  my  great  evil  and  sin  in  the  matters  for 
which  the  chiu-ch  dealt  with  me  about,  both  in  word  and  action ;  not  only 
in  the  things  charged  on  me,  but  also  in  my  carriage  and  behavior,  espe- 
cially in  the  time  of  their  dealing  with  me.  My  manifold  miscarriages, 
both  in  words  irreverently  and  unbecoming  a  Christian,  and  in  my  gestures 
in  the  time  of  the  church's  patience  and  dealing  vrith  me,  both  towards 
the  elders  and  towards  my  brethren  also,  they  were  so  great  that  I  am 
ashamed  before  God  and  man  ;  and  I  am  heartily  glad  I  have  a  season  to 
confess  them  to  God's  glory  and  my  own  shame,  which  I  have  often  begged 
pardon  of  God  for,  and  do  now  beg  the  same  of  you,  my  brethren,  for 
Christ's  sake  ;  for  I  know  my  evils  are  greatly  aggravated  by  my  passionate 
corruption,  which  is  my  great  evil. 

"  'This  is  freely  acknowledged,  in  hopes  to  find  acceptance,  by  me, 
John  Farnum.'  " 

Note  in  Church  Records.  —  "  Several  of  the  church  (viz..  Brother  CoUi- 
cot and  Brother  Way)  did,  by  the  desire  of  the  church,  enquire  of  some  of 

the  Anabaptists'  Society  (viz..  Skinner  and )  whether  they  had  any 

matter  of  scandal  to  object  against  John  Farnum,  because  then  we  would 
not  receive  him  again.  They  said  they  had  not,  and  that  they  had  nothing 
to  object  against  him  but  only  his  leaving  them." 


OTHER    INTERESTING    AND    CURIOUS    VOTES. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  a  vote  of  the  church  in  1676,  on 
the  occasion  of  building  the  second  house  of  worship  of  the 
Second  Church,  that  no  pews  should  be  made  -with  a  door  into 


APPENDIX.  297 

the  street.  It  is  evident  from  the  same  vote  that  the  society  built 
no  pews  in  the  house,  but  only  provided  ranges  of  seats.  Any 
individual  who  desired  was  permitted  to  build  a  pew  for  himself; 
but  he  could  not  dispose  of  it  if  he  wished  to  leave  it,  the  church 
reserving  to  themselves  that  right. 

"  2d  mo.  21  day,  1678.  —  The  brethren  consented  that  Brother  Blake 
should  be  dismissed,  or  permitted  to  joyn  with  the  brethren  of  Milton,  who 
purpose  (if  the  Lord  will)  to  gather  into  a  church-society. 

"  25th  4th  mo. — At  a  church-meeting,  voted,  that  Mr.  John  Cotton 
be  desired  to  assist  the  teacher,  in  preaching  once  a  fortnight ;  and  that 
twenty  pounds  per  annum,  in  money,  shall  be  given  him  :  to  be  paid  quar- 
terly, in  case  he  accept  of  this  invitation. 

"30th  day,  1  mo.  1680. — Voted,  that  Mr.  Avery  be  desired  to  join 
unto  this  church,  in  order  to  his  being  chosen  a  ruling  elder  amongst  us  ; 
in  case,  upon  further  experience,  the  Lord  shall  make  the  way  clear,  both 
on  his  part  and  ours. 

"  14  day,  2  mo.  1691.  —Voted,  that  Lieut.  Way,  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Robee, 
and  Mr.  Barnard,  be  desired  to  take  the  care  of  seating  persons  in  the 
meeting-house. 

"  Voted,  that  the  pastor  be  desired  to  take  what  care  he  shall  judge 
proper  in  choosing  and  settling  fit  persons  for  the  inspection  of  the  children 
in  the  meeting-house. 

"  1694,  8th  day,  2  mo. — Two  young  women  belonging  to  the  com- 
munion, to  wit,  Rebeckah  Adams  and  Alice  Pennel,  having  been  guilty  of 
consulting  an  ungodly  fortune-teller  in  the  neighborhood,  with  desire  to 
be  informed  of  some  secret  and  future  things,  this  day  in  public  made  a 
penitent  acknowledgment  of  that  miscarriage ;  and  so  the  church  was 
reconciled  unto  them. 

"1700,  11th  day,  5th  mo. — The  brethren  of  the  church  being  as- 
sembled at  the  desire  of  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly,  and 
messengers  from  both  Houses  in  the  Assembly  coming  to  them  with  a 
motion  that  they  would  consent  unto  the  removal  of  their  teacher's  resi- 
dence to  the  CoUedge  at  Cambridge,  the  ensuing  vote  was  passed  :  — 

' ' '  Being  under  the  sense  of  the  great  benefit  we  have  long  enjoyed  by 
the  labor  of  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  among  us,  it  must 
needs  be  imreasonable  and  impossible  for  us  to  consent  that  his  relations 
to  us,  and  our  enjoyment  of  him  and  them,  should  cease. 

"  '  Nevertheless,  the  respect  we  have  to  the  desire  and  welfare  of  the 
publick  does  compel  us  to  consent  that  our  good  pastor  may  so  remove 
his  personal  residence  to  the  CoUedge  at  Cambridge  as  may  be  consistent 
with  the  continuance  of  his  relation  to  us,  and  his  visits  of  us,  with  his 
publick  administrations,  as  often  as  his  health  and  strength  may  allow  it.' 
"  1707,  19  day,  8  mo. — Mr.  John  Barnard  having  given  scandal  by 
38 


298  APPENDIX. 

the  liberty  he  took  of  using  the  scandalous  game  of  cards,  when  he  was 
lately  a  chaplain  abroad  in  the  army,  he  this  day  made  liis  public  acknow- 
ledgment, which  gave  satisfaction  to  the  people  of  God. 

"  1715. — Voted,  nemine  contradicente,  by  the  brethren,  after  the  pas- 
tor had  withdrawn,  that  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  in  Ship- 
street,  now  vacant,  be  hired  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather,  at  the  charge  of  the  church,  until  some  further  provision  be  made 
for  him.     (Drawn  up  by  Col.  Winthrop.) 

"1727,  28  day,  11  mo. — Whereas,  in  the  holy  providence  of  our 
Lord,  his  aged  servant,  our  reverend  and  dear  pastor,  Dr.  Cotton  Mather, 
is  visited  and  brought  low  by  sickness,  which  takes  him  off  from  those  exer- 
cises of  the  pastoral  care,  whereby  God  has  greatly  endeared  him  to  us, 
and  threatens  his  removal  from  us  by  death,  which  we  would  deprecate  as 
a  most  awful  frown  of  Heaven,  —  we  do  therefore  desire  and  appoint  next 
Wednesday  afternoon  to  be  set  apart  and  employed  in  humble,  penitent, 
and  earnest  supplications  to  God  our  Saviour,  that  it  may  please  liim  to 
restore  and  confirm  the  health  of  his  servant,  and  prolong  his  life  and  use- 
fulness as  a  rich  blessing  to  his  people.  And  we  humbly  desire  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Colman,  Mr.  Thacher,  and  Mr.  Sewall,  to  assist  in  the  services  which 
are  called  for  on  this  occasion . ' ' 


BILL    OF   FAKE   FOR    ORDINATION,    1722. 

"  To  be  sent  to  Mr.  Townsend's  [for  ministers  entertained  there],  one 
plum  cake,  one  Cheser  cheese,  ^  barrel  beer,  two  bread  bricks,  |  doz. 
Canary  wine,  two  pounds  fresh  butter,  h  barrel  ale. 

From  the  cook's  shop  :  three  small  pattyes,  12  doz.  tarts. 

To  boil :  5  hams  bacon,  5  leggs  porke,  15  neat  tongues,  2  doz.  fowles. 

To  rost :  5  pieces  beefe,  5  loins  of  veal,  5  qrs.  lamb. 

All  sorts  of  sauce,  as  anchovies,  pickles,  greens,  sallets,  sparrow  grass, 
oysters,  onions,  cramberrys. 

40  lbs.  butter,  eggs,  ^  hand,  reasons,  ^  do.  corants,  spice  of  all  sorts, 
16  pudings. 

Lickquer :  1  bl.  beere,  1  bl.  cyder,  1  quarter  cask  Madeira  wine,  i 
hundred  powder  sugar,  1  loaf  refine  do.,  1  galloon  vinegar,  |  galloon  lim- 
juice. 

40  bread  bricks,  pips  and  tobacco,  1  dozen  drinking  glasses. 

To  looke  after  the  dressing  :  Mrs.  Black,  Delly,  Mrs.  Arnold. 

i  cord  wood,  rose  water,  radishess,  turnups,  potatoes,  cabbage,  mus- 
tard." 


The  names  of  the  deacons  of  the  Second  Church,  as  far  as  I 
have  been  able  tg  ascertain  from  the  records,  are  the  following  :  — 


APPENDIX. 


299 


John  Phillips,  Christopher  Gibson,  John  Atwood,  Obadiah  Gill, 
John  Barnard,  Thomas  Baker,  John  Buchanan,  Grafton  Fever- 
yeare,  William  Larrabee,  Edward  Langdon, Proctor,  Tho- 
mas Tyler,  Jonathan  Brown,  Wm.  Bordman,  John  Tudor,  Thos. 
Greenough,  Samuel  Ridgway,  Wm.  Bell,  Benjamin  Henderson, 
Samuel  Parkman,  Thomas  Lewis,  James  Foster,  Peter  Mackin- 
tosh, jun.,  Enoch  Patterson,  R.  W,  Bayly,  J.  N.  Daniell,  Samuel 
G.  Simpkins,  Simon  W.  Robinson,  Nathan  Clark,  Isaac  Adams. 


LEGACIES    AND    DONATIONS    TO    THE    SECOND    CHUKCH. 

Capt.  Samuel  Scarlet,  by  his  last  will,  left  a  legacy  of  twelve 
pounds  per  annum  to  the  Second  Church  in  Boston,  and  the  poor 
thereof.  Major  Richards  bequeathed  a  legacy  of  one  hundred 
pounds  to  the  Second  Church,  the  yearly  profits  thereof  to  be 
towards  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  belonging  to  said  church, 
to  be  applied  according  to  the  direction  of  the  teaching  officer  or 
officers.  Madam  Foster  bequeathed  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
pounds  to  the  Second  Church,  to  be  employed  for  the  relief  of 
the  poor  belonging  to  said  church  in  communion  with  it.  Dr. 
Increase  Mather  left  five  pounds  by  his  last  will  for  the  benefit  of 
the  poor  of  the  church.  Dame  Dorothy  Saltonstall  left  by  her 
will  fifty  pounds  to  the  poor  of  the  church,  and  fifty  pounds  for 
a  flagon ;  also  a  strip  of  land  adjoining  the  meeting-house  (in 
North  Square).  Mrs.  Rachel  Shute  gave,  by  an  instrument,  five 
hundred  pounds  to  the  poor  of  the  church,  to  be  received  after 
her  decease ;  but,  her  property  having  become  somewhat  reduced, 
she  afterwards  requested  that  the  "instrument"  might  be  returned. 
The  church  voted  that  the  Trustees  named  in  the  instrument 
should  be  allowed  to  give  it  up,  upon  the  receipt  of  a  sum  not 
less  than  twenty  pounds  for  the  whole.  Hon.  Thomas  Hutchinson 
bequeathed  several  sums  of  money  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the 
church.  Madam  Frizzel  gave  a  lot  of  land  to  the  church. 
Deacon  Samuel  Parkman  was  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  church 
and  society.     Deacon  John  Tudor  contributed  largely  to  its  funds. 


300  APPENDIX. 

Adam  Winthrop  also  deserves  honorable  mention  in  this  con- 
nection. .  The  living  benefactors  to  the  church,  of  whom  there 
are  several  belonging  to  the  society,  would  not  wish  to  have 
their  names  ^vritten  in  this  catalogue.  Some  future  minister  Avho 
may  write  the  history  of  the  present  period  will  be  as  glad  to 
search  out  their  acts  of  Christian  generosity,  and  as  pleased  to 
record  them,  as  we  are  in  rescuing  from  oblivion  those  who  of  old 
have  loved  and  remembered  our  venerated  church. 


The  following  address  was  delivered  to  the  people  in  the 
meeting-house  by  Deacon  Tudor.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
the  currency  had  been  depreciated. 

"June,  1779. 

"  To  our  Brethren  and  Sisters  in  the  Gallery,  and  to  som  below,  I  am, 
&c.,  Yrs.,  J.  T.  :  by  the  Comte.  I  am  desir'd  to  acquant  you  with  what 
perhaps  som  of  you  have  not  heard  of,  —  that  our  Revd.  Ministers  sallery, 
and  also  the  Saxtons,  is  lately  rais'd  ;  but  the  Contrebution  is  not  sufBsiant 
at  present  to  pay  it. 

"  Therefor,  first  to  you  our  Breathren,  even  to  som  who  may  work  by 
the  Day,  you  have  from  10  to  12  Dollors  a  Day,  which  is  from  60  to  72 
DoUors  per  Week  :  now  suppose  you,  my  friends,  should  give  6s.  a  Sabbath, 
'tis  but  a  70th  part  of  your  incom  ;  nay,  supposeing  you  did  not  earn  but 
half  so  much,  it  would  not  be  a  30th  part.  As  to  you  our  Sisters,  boath 
above  and  below,  even  to  those  who  may  go  oute  to  Jorning  or  som  other 
Busness,  you  have  4  Dollors  a  Day,  which  is  24  Dols.  per  Week  :  now,  if 
you  should  give  3s.  a  Sabbath,  it  would  be  but  a  48th  part  of  your  earn- 
ings. But  som  vdU  say,  we  are  not  imploy'd  half  our  time  in  that  way. 
Supposeing  that  to  be  the  case,  the  3s.  is  but  a  24th  part  of  your 
earnings. 

"  Now,  my  friends,  if  we  are  attentive  hearers  to  the  2  Sermons  and 
4  prayers  we  hear,  or  may  hear,  every  Lords-day  from  this  pulpit,  wil 
recompence  us  only  in  our  Temporal  conserns  a  1000  fould  for  the  smaU 
matter  we  may  Weekly  Contribute.  But,  if  we  carry  it  to  our  Speritual 
conserns,  the  comparison  of  a  few  Shillings  will  be  but  as  a  drop  of  Water 
to  the  Otion. 

"  The  advantage  to  our  better  part  will  be  10  Thousand  times  10  thou- 
sand in  ovir  favor,  and  that  to  all  Eternity,  should  God  be  pleased  to  say 
Amen  to  the  joint  petitions  from  the  pulpit  &  our  own  hearts.  But  I  may 
not  inlarge  ;  but  permit  me  to  remind  you  &  my  self  of  2  or  3  exortations 
from  St  Paul,  in  the  1st  of  Corinths.  9  Chapr.  13th  and  14  verses  :  '  They 
which  waite  at  the  alter  are  pertakers  with  the  alter  :  Even  so  hath  the 


APPENDIX.  301 

Lord  ordained,  that  they  which  preach  the  Gospel  should  live  of  the  Gos- 
ple.'  Again,  the  same  Apostel  in  the  2d  Corinths.  Chapr.  9th,  6th  and 
7th  Verss.  tels  us  that  he  which  soweth  Sparingly  shall  reap  also  sparingly  ; 
and  he  which  soweth  Bountifully  shaU  reap  also  Bountifully.  Every  man 
according  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let  him  give  :  Not  grudgingly, 
or  of  Necessity  ;  for  God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver.  Once  more,  in  Hebrews, 
Chapr.  13th  and  10th  Vs.  :  '  To  do  good  &  to  distrebute,  forget  not :  for 
with  such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased.'  Hear  I  mite  mention  many 
places  of  Scripture,  and  bring  many  arguments  to  enforce  the  point  before 
us,  but  the  present  time  wil  not  admit  of  it ;  and  we  shal  rest  it  with 
your  Serious  consideration,  and  hope  for  your  genorous  complyance." 


Mr.  Emerson  was  chosen  by  a  vote  of  seventy-four  out  of 
eighty-three,  —  the  worshippers  voting  with  the  proprietors. 
The  order  of  ser\aces  at  his  ordination  was  as  follows,  viz. : 
Dr.  Pierce,  of  Brookline,  offered  the  introductory  prayer,  and  read 
the  Scriptures;  Mr.  Ripley,  of Waltham,  preached  from  the  text, 
"  Preaching  peace  by  Jesus  Christ;  "  Mr.  Parkman,  of  the  New 
North,  made  the  ordaining  prayer ;  Dr.  Ripley,  of  Concord,  gave 
the  charge  ;  Mr.  Frothingham,  of  the  First  Church,  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship ;  Mr.  Gannett,  of  the  Federal-street  Church, 
the  address  to  the  people ;  Mr.  Upham,  of  Salem,  the  concluding 
prayer. 


The  present  pastor  of  the  Second  Church  and  Society  was 
chosen  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  proprietors,  Oct.  20,  1833. 
At  his  ordination,  which  took  place  Dec.  4,  1833,  the  order  of 
services  was  as  follows,  viz. :  Introductory  prayer,  and  selections 
from  Scripture,  by  Rev.  John  Pierpont ;  sermon  by  Prof.  Henry 
Ware,  jun. ;  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev.  Hezekiah  Packard,  D.D. ; 
charge  by  Rev.  James  Kendall,  D.D. ;  fellowship  of  the  churches 
by  Rev.  Francis  Parkman ;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  George 
Putnam. 


COVENANT    OF    THE    SECOND    CHURCH. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  1821,  the  church  voted  to  restore 
and  adopt  for  their  use,  on  the  admission  of  members,  the  ancient 


302  APPENDIX. 

covenant  used  by   Dr.   Increase  Mather.     It  is  in   these  words, 
viz.  :  — 

"  You  do,  in  this  solemn  presence,  give  up  yourself  to  the  true  God  in 
Jesus  Christ,  and  to  his  people  also,  according  to  the  will  of  God ;  pro- 
mising to  walk  with  God,  and  with  this  church  of  his,  in  aU  his  holy 
ordinances,  and  to  yield  obedience  to  every  truth  of  his,  which  has  been 
or  shall  be  made  known  to  you  as  your  duty  ;  the  Lord  assisting  you  by 
his  spirit  and  grace. 

"  We,  then,  the  church  of  Christ  in  this  place,  do  receive  you  into 
the  fellowship,  and  promise  to  walk  towards  you,  and  to  watch  over  you 
as  a  member  of  this  church,  endeavoring  your  spiritual  edification  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord." 


LIBRARY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

A  valuable  library  belongs  to  the  Second  Church,  which  was 
founded  at  the  suggestion  of  Joshua  Gee,  and  received  donations 
from  several  clergymen  and  others.  In  1827,  at  the  request  of 
Mr.  Ware,  who  stated  that  efforts  were  making  to  build  up  a 
library  for  the  Theological  School  at  Cambridge,  the  church 
"  voted,  that  the  pastor  be  authorized  to  select  such  volumes  as 
he  may  think  proper  from  its  library,  and  make  a  donation  of 
them  to  the  library  of  the  Theological  School,  with  the  proviso, 
that  the  minister  of  the  Second  Church  shall  always  have  free  use 
of  the  library  of  the  Theological  School." 


COMMUNION    PLATE. 

At  the  time  of  the  union  of  the  Second  and  New  Brick 
Churches,  several  valuable  articles  of  silver  plate,  being  unneces- 
sary, were  sold.  The  following  is  a  description  of  the  silver 
communion  plate  now  in  possession  of  the  Second  Church  :  — 

"One  large  Flagon,  with  this  inscription  thereon:  'Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Wensley  to  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  Boston,  1711.'  Also  stamped 
on  the  bottom  '  po. ' 

One  large  Flagon,  inscribed  :  '  The  Legacy  of  Mr.  John  Frisell,  who 
died  April  10,  1723,  to  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  Boston.'  Also 
a  coat  of  arms  is  engraved  thei-eon,  with  'this  motto  :  ^Jesu  est  Prest.^ 
Also  stamped  with  the  letters  '  ib  '  twice  on  the  body  of  the  flagon,  near 
the  handle. 


APPENDIX.  303 

One  large  Flagon,  inscribed  :  '  This  Flagon  is  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Dorothy 
Frisell  to  the  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  Boston,  December,  1733.' 

One  smaller  Flagon,  inscribed  :  '  The  gift  of  Mrs.  Dorothy  Frisell  to 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  Boston,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Waldron 
is  the  pastor,  1724.'     Also  stamped  '  ib,' 

One  large  Flagon,  inscribed  :  '  The  Rev.  Mr.  Welsteed,  pastor  of  this 
church,  ordered,  on  his  deathbed,  this  flagon  to  be  given  as  a  token  of 
the  tender  affection  he  bears  towards  us,  1753.'  A  coat  of  arms  is  en- 
graved on  it,  but  no  motto.     Stamped  near  the  handle  with  the  word 

'  BRIDGE.' 

One  smaller  Flagon,  no  inscription.  Stamped  twice  near  the  handle 
with  the  letters  '  t.t.' 

One  large  Cup,  inscribed  :  '  A  Friend's  gift  to  the  North  Brick  Church , 
1730.'     A  coat  of  arms  on  the  reverse  side,  and  also  stamped  '  ic' 

One  large  Cuji,  stamped  '  hurd.' 

One  large  Cup,  stamped  '  ig.'  and  engraved  on  the  bottom,  '  1731.' 

One  large  Cup,  stamped  '  gh.' 

One  large  Cup,  engraved :  '  Given  by  Nathaniel  Loring  to  the  New 
Brick  Church,  1723-4.'     Stamped  on  the  bottom  '  ir.' 

One  smaller  Cup,  inscribed :  Given  by  W.  L.  to  the  New  Brick  Church, 
1723^.'     Stamped  on  the  bottom  '  IR.' 

One  smaller  Cup,  stamped  on  the  bottom  '  gh.' 

Two  small  Spoons,  with  holes  in  the  bowls  for  strainers,  stamped  '  p.r.' 

One  large  Dish,  inscribed  :  '  The  gift  of  Edward  Hutchinson  to  the 
Second  Church  in  Boston,  May,  1711.' 

One  Dish  to  match,  inscribed  :  '  The  gift  of  Thomas  Hutchinson  to  the 
Second  Church  in  Boston,  May,  1711.'  A  coat  of  arms  on  each  dish,  and 
both  stamped  '  ew.' 

One  Dish,  same  size,  no  inscription.  Stamped  '  ew.'  A  coat  of  arms 
engraved  thereon,  but  different  from  those  on  the  above  dishes. 

One  Baptismal  Basin,  inscribed  on  the  under  side  of  the  rim  as  fol- 
lows, viz.  :  '  Hoc  Lavacrum  Septentrionali  in  Bostonio  Eccksice  adusum 
SS.  Baptismi  dedicatum  est  per  Adamum  Winthrop  ad  ortum  primi  sui  Filii 
qui  baptizatus  est  18  August,  1706.' 

One  Silver  Bread  Knife." 


THE    FESTIVAL. 

[written  by  one  of  the  committee  op  publication.] 

On  Tuesday  evening,  June  17,  a  social  Commemorative  Festival 
was  held  under  the  direction  of  the  ladies  of  the  Society. 

After  the  company  had  assembled  in  the  church,  a  short 
address  was  delivered  by  the  pastor,  and  an  original  hymn  sung. 


304  APPENDIX. 

From  tlience  they  proceeded  to  the  vestry,  where  a  sumptuous 
entertainment  had  been  provided.  An  invitation  had  been  ex- 
tended to  all  who  had  ever  been  connected  with  the  ancient 
church ;  and  the  society  had  the  happiness  to  welcome  many 
friends  from  city  and  country  who  were  formerly  fellow-worship- 
pers, and  whose  sympathies  and  affections  still  lingered  around 
its  sacred  altar. 

After  some  time  had  been  spent  in  social  converse,  and  in  par- 
taking of  the  refreshments  furnished  for  the  occasion,  short  and 
pertinent  addresses  followed,  by  gentlemen  who  were  present.  The 
pastor  presided  ;  suggesting,  from  time  to  time,  themes  for  remark 
in  regard  to  the  many  distinguished  men  and  women  who  have  been 
connected  with  the  society,  reading  some  quaint  and  interesting 
records  from  our  ancient  annals,  and  inspiring  all  present  with  a 
glow  of  congratulation  and  pleasure  at  the  present  prosperity  and 
prospects  of  our  time-hallowed  church,  upon  the  commencement  of 
its  third  century.  In  addition  to  the  remarks  of  the  pastor,  the 
following  gentlemen  successively  addressed  the  assembly :  Rev. 
Dr.  Sharpe ;  Rev.  Dr.  Parkman ;  Rev.  Frederick  T.  Gray ;  Mr. 
F.  W.  Lincoln,  jun. ;  Rev.  Mr.  Muzzey,  of  Cambridge  ;  and  N.  C. 
Betton,  Esq. 

On  the  walls  of  the  vestry  were  hung  the  portraits  of  Increase 
Mather,  Cotton  Mather,  Joshua  Gee  and  wife,  William  Welsteed, 
Ellis  Gray,  John  Lathrop,  Henry  Ware,  jr.,  and  Gov.  Hutchinson. 

The  vestry  and  tables  were  appropriately  decorated  with 
flowers  furnished  by  friends  in  the  country.  Among  the  contri- 
butions was  a  barrel  of  bouquets  from  the  members  of  the  ancient 
Pilgrim  Church  in  Plymouth,  accompanied  by  the  following  note, 
which  was  read  by  Mr.  Robbins,  to  whom  it  was  addressed :  — 

"  Plymouth,  June  17,  1851. 
"My  dear  Friend,  —  Your  grandfather  planted  many  a  seed  in  our 
ancient  church,  which  could  never  die.  Will  you  please  to  imagine  that 
these  flowers  represent  the  unfading  bloom  of  his  faithful  labors  ?  I  trust 
that  you  will  not  think  our  little  gift  an  intruder  among  the  contributions 
of  your  own  people,  and  that  you  will  accept  it  as  an  expression  of  our 
interest  in  a  commemoration  which  must  fill  your  heart  with  thankful  memo- 
ries and  pure  joy.  — With  my  most  cordial  good  wishes,  to-day  and  always, 
"  Faithfully  yours,  Geo.  W.  Briggs." 


APPENDIX.  305 

The  festivities  of  the  evening  were  closed  with  singing  the 
doxology,  "  From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies,"  &c. ;  all  re- 
turning home  gratified  with  their  participation  in  an  occasion  as 
rare  as  it  was  delightful,  where  the  social  feelings  Avere  hallowed 
by  the  spirit  of  our  holy  religion,  and  where  the  bond  of  union 
was  sanctified  by  christian  love.  It  was  estimated  that  nearly 
one  thousand  persons  were  present  during  the  evening. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  succeeding  day  (Wednesday),  the 
children  assembled,  and,  in  innocent  hilarity  and  amusement, 
interspersed  with  the  singing  of  appropriate  hymns,  passed  a  few 
hours.  Many  of  them  were  accompanied  by  their  parents  and 
elder  friends,  who,  participating  in  the  exuberance  of  their 
youthful  spirits,  added  grace  to  the  occasion  by  their  presence 
and  sympathy. 

The  following  is  the  original  hymn  referred  to  above,  which 
was  written  by  a  lady  of  the  parish  :  — 

"  Our  fathers'  God  !     They  sowed  the  seed  in  tears, 
When  spread  around  the  howling  wilderness ; 
And  now,  the  harvest  of  two  hundred  years 
Their  children  meet  in  joy  to  reap  and  bless. 

Two  hundred  years  !     And  still  thy  gracious  power 
This  fold  of  Christ  preserves  with  watchful  care, 
Sets  the  bright  rainbow  on  the  parting  shower, 
And  gilds  with  sunshine  clouds  of  past  despair. 

Two  hundred  years  !     Unseen,  a  glorious  cloud 
Of  heavenly  witnesses  are  here  to-night ; 
Their  silent  anthem  joins  our  chorus  loud, 
'  Glory  and  praise  to  God  above  all  height !  ' 

•  Glory  to  God  ! '     In  Christ  our  living  Head, 
—  Where  thousand  years  are  as  a  single  day,  — 
The  church  below,  with  all  the  sainted  dead, 
Blessing  and  thanks  to  thee  shall  ever  pay." 


39 


306 


APPENDIX 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NEW   BRICK   CHURCH. 


R  — Page  171. 

The  aggrieved  party  first  published  "  An  Account  of  the 
Reasons  why  they  could  not  consent  to  Mr.  Peter  Thacher's 
Ordination."  A  reply  soon  followed,  entitled  "  Vindication  of 
the  New  North  Church  from  several  Falsehoods,  &c.,  by  several 
of  the  Members  of  that  Church."  Increase  Mather  published 
"  A  Testimony  to  the  good  Order  of  the  Churches,"  in  which  he 
censured  the  proceedings  of  the  New  North  Church,  as  contrary 
to  congregational  principles  and  precedents.  To  this  Messrs. 
Webb  and  Thacher  replied,  in  a  small  pamphlet  containing  "  A 
Brief  Declaration  in  behalf  of  Themselves  and  their  Church,"  (fee. 

It  appears  that  it  was  reported  that  "  a  minister  of  the  town  " 
was  concerned  in  getting  up  the  first  pamphlet  mentioned  above  ; 
or,  at  least,  that  he  "  overlooked  and  corrected  the  presswork 
whilst  it  was  printing."  The  minister  alluded  to  was  Cotton 
Mather.  The  authors  of  the  "  Account,"  &c.,  have  appended  an 
advertisement  to  their  pamphlet,  declaring  that  "  the  report  is 
utterly  false,"  and  affirming  that  "  no  minister  in  this  town,  nor  in 
the  whole  world,  ever  saw  or  corrected  one  word  of  the  whole." 

I  have  quoted  the  answer  of  the  dissentients  to  one  of  the 
reasons  brought  forward  by  the  friends  of  Mr.  Thacher,  in  justi- 
fication of  his  removal  from  his  parish  at  Weymouth.  Their 
objections  to  other  reasons  are  worth  reading :  — 

"  It  is  said,  that  others  have  done  so  before  liim.  To  this  we  answer 
thus  :  If  they  have,  they  have  had  better  reasons  to  give  than  have  been 


APPENDIX.  307 

given  in  this  case ;  and,  though  they  have,  yet  the  hurt  and  evil  that  has 
been  done  thereby  has  outweighed,  or  at  least  balanced,  the  good. 

"It  is  said  he  was  unal)le  to  perform  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
Weymouth, — 'particularly,  \dsiting  his  parishioners.  To  this  we  answer 
thus :  He  did  not  serve  an  Egyptian  task-master,  that  required  the  full 
tale  of  brick,  without  the  least  straw  aSbrded.  God  does  not  desire,  nor 
require,  his  ministers  to  do  a  work  when  they  have  no  strength  afforded 
them  to  do  it :  if  Mr.  Thacher  did  according  to  his  ability,  he  would 
never  be  faulted  for  doing  that  which  he  had  not  no  strength,  power,  or 
ability  to  do. 

"It  is  said  that  Mr.  Thacher  complained  of  the  little  good  he  did  by 
his  preaching  there  ;  that  there  were  no  seals  of  his  ministry ;  and  hence 
his  discouragement  arose.  To  this  we  answer  thus  :  1.  If  he  was  faith- 
ful in  his  work,  he  need  not  doubt  of  a  glorious  reward  hereafter,  though 
he  was  very  unsuccessful  in  it.  So  the  prophet  comforted  himself: 
Isaiah,  xlix.  4 :  '  Then  I  said,  I  have  labored  in  vain,  I  have  spent  my 
strength  for  nought,  and  in  vain ;  yet  surely  my  judgment  is  with  the 
Lord,  and  my  work  with  my  God.'  And  in  verse  5  :  '  Though  Israel  be 
not  gathered,  yet  shall  I  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  and  my  God 
shaU  be  my  strength.'  2.  God  must  be  waited  on,  and  not  prescribed 
to  ;  the  Spirit  worketh  as  it  pleaseth  ;  the  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth, 
and  we  hear  the  sound  thereof,  but  cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh,  or 
whither  it  goeth ;  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.  Though  a 
minister  toils  all  night,  and  taketh  nothing,  — yet,  for  aught  he  knows,  in 
a  little  time  he  may  have  many  for  his  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the 
day  of  the  Lord. 

"It  is  said  that  Mr.  Thacher  came  to  Boston  for  the  delight  and 
benefit  of  conversation.  To  this  we  answer  thus :  If  he  be  so  bright  a 
man  as  he  is  said  to  be,  then  the  need  of  conversation  to  brighten  him  is 
so  much  the  less,  and  more  inconsiderable.  Notvdthstanding  this  reason 
for  his  removal,  yet  he  ought  not  to  have  left  that  church,  over  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  had  made  him  overseer,  for  his  own  delight  and  benefit ;  he 
ought  to  remain  unto  the  end  in  that  town  which  God,  in  his  providence, 
had  fixed  him  in." 

Mr.  Ware's  opinion  seems  to  me  perfectly  correct,  viz. :  "  that 
the  New  North  people  wrote  with  most  moderation,  though  they 
were  clearly  in  the  wrong  ;  while  the  advocates  of  the  New  Brick, 
though  on  the  right  side,  lost  all  command  of  their  temper." 

The  result  of  Mr.  Thacher's  connection  with  the  New  North 
was  certainly  in  the  end  favorable  to  the  interests  of  that  church, 
and  justified  the  good  opinion,  formed  by  those  who  supported 
him,  of  his  fitness  for  that  place. 


308  APPENDIX. 


a— Page  179. 

The  old  clock,  after  various  fortunes,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  auctioneer,  in  January,  1839.  The  following  appropriate 
speech  was  written  for  the  occasion  of  the  sale,  by  some  lover  of 
ancient  relics.  It  was  said  to  have  been  read  by  the  auctioneer ; 
but  for  the  truth  of  this  statement  I  cannot  vouch. 

"  Here  is  the  rehc  of  the  early  days  of  our  country's  annals,  a  rem- 
nant saved;  antique  of  its  kind,  and  venerable  for  every  association 
connected  with  its  history;  —  the  old  church-clock,  bearing  a  mark  of 
patriarchal  longevity  in  the  date,  that  speaks  it  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Yet,  while  it  has  ticked  and  struck  off  the  thousand  and 
tens  of  thousands,  who  have  looked  on  its  calm  face,  into  eternity,  it  is 
still  in  good  time,  and  going !  going  !  !  going  !  !  ! 

"  Though  its  existence  was  begun  in  the  land  of  kings,  moved  by  the 
spirit  of  our  pious  fathers,  it  followed  them  to  the  land  of  pUgrims,  and 
was  consecrated  to  serve  in  the  house  of  God,  whom  they  came  hither  to 
worsliip  as  the  cliildren  of  Ms  kingdom,  and  not  as  spiritual  slaves  to 
earthly  despotism. 

"  This  sober,  ever-going  clock  came  over  in  the  days  of  caution  and 
sanity.  It  came  when  a  sea-voyage  was  a  serious  thing,  and  religion  a 
serious  thing,  and  a  church-clock  a  serious  thing.  It  counted  the  moments, 
while  the  minister  of  God  was  preaching,  and  his  hearers  Ustening,  of 
eternity.  It  echoed  his  text,  '  Take  heed  how  ye  hear.'  Then  was  there 
real  clock-work  and  order  in  men's  minds  and  principles.  Vanity  did  not 
then  stare  this  venerable  monitor  in  the  face,  and  study  the  while  how  to 
display  its  plumage.  Avarice  did  not  dare,  under  its  measvu-ed  'cHck,' 
to  be  planning  in  the  temple  how  to  lay  up  goods  for  many  years.  Nor 
was  pride  then  puffed  up  by  the  breath  of  its  own  nostrUs,  while  this 
minute-hand  was  showing  its  duration  cut  shorter  at  the  beat  of  every 
pulse. 

"Now,  who  will  let  this  venerable  memento  of  those  days  be  dese- 
crated ?  "Who  wiU  not  wish  to  possess  himself  of  it,  as  a  relic  of  the  age 
of  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity  ^ 

"  Look  at  its  aged  but  unwrinkled  face.  It  is  calm  ;  for  it  has  not  to 
answer  for  the  sermons  it  has  heard.  Look  at  it,  ye  degenerate  sons  of 
New  England !  Do  ye  not  seem  to  see  the  shade  go  back  on  the  dial- 
plate  to  the  days  of  your  fathers,  and  to  hear  the  voices  of  those  aged 
servants  of  God  who  went  from  their  preaching  to  their  reward  ? 

"  I  would  speak  more ;  but  the  hour  is  come.  To  whom  shall  it  be 
sold?" 


APPENDIX.  309 


H.  — Page  183. 

The  names  of  the  twenty-four  persons  who  first  associated  for 
the  building  of  the  New  Brick,  and  purchased  the  land,  were  the 
following :  —  Alexander  Sears,  Solomon  Townsend,  John  Waldo, 
Owen  Harris,  James  Tileston,  Nathaniel  Jarvis,  Thomas  Lee, 
Jonathan  Mountfort,  William  Arnold,  Benjamin  Edwards,  Peter 
Papillon,  Thomas  Dagget,  Daniel  Ballard,  Robert  Gutridge, 
Robert  Oring,  Edward  Pell,  Samuel  Burnell,  Francis  Parnall, 
Thaddeus  Macarty,  James  Barnes,  James  Pecker,  James  Halsey, 
Ebenezer  Bridge,  Ephraim  More. 

The  building  committee  consisted  of  John  Frisel,  Thomas  Lee, 
Jonathan  Mountfort,  Alexander  Sears,  James  Tileston,  James 
Pecker,  and  Edward  Pell. 

The  following  persons  gathered  into  a  church-state,  viz. :  Alex- 
ander Sears,  Solomon  Townsend,  William  Lee,  Nathaniel  Loring, 
Moses  Pierce,  Daniel  Pecker,  Josiah  Baker,  Henry  Wheeler,  John 
Waldo,  James  Tileston. 

"  July  19,  1722.  — It  was  agreed  upon  and  voted  that  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  should  be  administered  in  the  revolution  of  every 
fourth  sabbath  from  August  12,  1722." 

The  services  at  the  ordination  of  Waldron  were  as  follows, 
viz. :  Mr.  Sewall  offered  the  introductory  prayer ;  Cotton  Mather 
preached  from  1  John,  iv.  7 ;  Increase  Mather  gave  the  charge ; 
Mr.  Wadsworth,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship ;  and  Mr.  Waldron 
closed  with  prayer. 

William  Waldron  was  a  descendant  from  the  family  of  Cutts, 
from  which  have  sprung  many  distinguished  persons,  and  the 
members  of  which  have  intermarried  with  some  of  the  best  fami- 
lies in  New  England.  His  father.  Col.  Richard  Waldron,  was 
first  married  to  a  daughter  of  John  Cutts,  President  of  New 
Hampshire.  His  mother  was  Elinor  Vaughan,  also  a  descendant 
from  the  family  of  Cutts.  His  brother  Richard  was  Secretary  of 
New  Hampshire.     His  sister   Abigail  married  Col.   Saltonstall, 


310 


APPENDIX. 


of  Haverhill,  Mass.  His  only  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Col. 
Josiah  Quincy,  of  Braintree,  Mass.  The  Lowells  of  Boston  are 
also  descendants  of  the  family  of  Cutts.  Our  pastor  married 
Eliza  Allen,  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  He  was  born  1697,  and  died 
Sept.  20,  1727,  aged  thirty-one. 


"Aug.  23,  1725. — Voted,  that  Mr.  Waldron  be  supplied  with  con- 
stant heljj  for  six  months  next  ensuing  from  this  day. 

"Feb.  28,  1726.— Voted,  that  Mr.  Waldron  be  supplied  with  help 
until  the  annual  meeting  in  July  next. 

"Feb.  6,  1727.— Voted,  that  Mr.  Waldi-on  be  paid  out  of  the  trea- 
sury thirty  shilhngs  per  week,  besides  his  stated  salary,  until  the  annual 
meeting  in  July  next." 

Such  votes  were  often  passed  "  whilst  there  was  but  one  mini- 
ster, it  being  thought  that  the  strength  of  one  was  inadequate  to 
the  whole  duty." 

Mr.  Waldron's  salary  was  continued  to  his  widow  for  four 
months  and  a  half  after  his  decease. 


L  — Page  184. 

Mr.  Welsteed's  ordination  took  place  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1728.  "  Mr.  Sewall  and  Mr.  Cooper  prayed  before  and  after  the 
sermon.  Mr.  Welsteed  preached.  Mr.  Walter  gave  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship,  and  Dr.  Colman  the  charge." 

Mr.  Welsteed  married  a  sister  of  Governor  Hutchinson. 

"Nov.  18,1728.  —  The  Rev.  Mr.  Welsteed  being  about  marrying, 
and  as  there  wiU  arise  the  charge  of  house  and  fire-wood  thereby,  voted, 
that  there  be  allowed  him  seventy  pounds  a  year  out  of  the  stock. 

"Feb.  11,  1733.  — Voted,  to  add  four  persona  to  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee, viz. :  the  Rev.  WilUam  Welsteed,"  &c. 


The  letters  of  Waldron  are  some  of  them  interesting.  I  have 
thought  it  not  out  of  place  to  insert  here  a  few  extracts  from 
some  of  them,  relating  to  the  circumstances  and  men  of  his 
times. 


APPENDIX.  311 


DESCRIPTION   OP   PROFESSOR   WIGGLESWORTH. 

"And  this  leads  me  to  Mr.  Wiggles  worth,  whom  your  preposterous 
managements  have  obhged  mo  to  mention  after  Mr.  Welsteed.  I  must 
needs  say  I  can't  in  justice  imagine  that  this  good  gentleman  is  second  to 
any.  He  is  certainly  a  first  rate,  if  not  the  first  rate.  His  body  is  the 
less  acceptable  part  of  him,  and  that  is  in  no  wise  to  be  despised.  As 
for  his  intellectual  powers,  his  being  chosen  into  the  professorship  by 
some  of  our  wisest  and  best  men  must  speak  him  superlative.  As  for 
liis  pubHc  preaching,  you  would  guess  him  almost  to  be  under  an  inspira- 
tion in  it.  His  delivery  is  with  great  delil^eration  and  distinctness.  He 
has  a  small,  still  voice  ;  not  loud,  but  audible.  As  for  the  impediment 
you  mention,  it  is  only  a  graceful  lisp  that  does  not  at  all  afiect  his  speech 
to  make  him  unintelligible.  When  I  have  heard  him  preach,  I  never 
observed  but  that  every  syllable  was  clearly  articulated.  And  as  for  his 
never  being  a  candidate  for  the  gospel-ministry,  it  is  a  mistake.  He 
always  was  so,  ever  since  he  preached,  and  is  so  now.  He  has  been 
in  nomination  (though  I  don't  so  well  approve  the  method)  more  than 
once ;  and  the  reason  why  he  has  been  neglected  is  owing  only  to  the 
ignorance  and  unskilfulness  of  the  rabble,  which  make  the  majority. 
They  disgust  every  thing  but  noise  and  nonsense,  and  can't  be  content  to 
sit  quiet  unless  their  auditory  nerves  are  drummed  upon  with  a  voice  like 
thunder.  His  meeting  with  no  acceptance  is  a  great  reproach  upon  the 
understandings  of  the  multitude.  I  guess  he  would  hardly  be  prevailed 
to  leave  his  business  here  only  to  ma^e  a  fruitless  journey ;  for  I  don't 
think  he  has  any  thing  in  prospect  —  I  mean  a  settlement  —  any  further. 
The  learned  this  way  would  be  loath  to  part  wdth  him.  He  is  treated  vrith 
great  respect  this  way  ;  and,  should  he  come  to  Portsmouth,  your  clergy, 
though  his  seniors,  must  stoop  to  him.  As  for  his  deafness,  I  look  on  it 
as  a  good  ministerial  qualification.  Mr.  Prince  is  an  excellent  preacher ; 
a  fine  scholar ;  has  but  an  uncouth  delivery.  He  is  raw  and  uncultivated ; 
not  much  of  a  gentleman.  I  should,  for  my  part,  pretty  much  suspect 
his  conduct  among  you.  I  asked  the  professor  whether,  if  he  should  be 
asked  to  preach  anywhere  for  a  small  term,  he  would  leave  his  business, 
and  mentioned  Piscataqua  to  him.  He  replied  that  he  should  consult  the 
president  in  such  an  aifair.  But  he  added,  '  I  believe  it  will  be  best  for 
them  to  liear  only  one.'  He  is  a  very  prudent  man  ;  and  I  am  confident, 
that,  if  he  had  been  sent  to  after  the  same  manner  that  Mr.  Welsteed 
has,  he  would  not  have  come ;  and  yet  he  is  an  humble,  meek,  modest 


"  The  other  day  I  was  in  at  Mr.  Colman's  ;  Mr.  Cooper  was  there 
too.  After  other  talk,  we  fell  upon  Piscataqua  ;  they  asked  how  matters 
stood  there.  I  told  them  I  heard  that  there  were  some  of  you  inclined  to 
hear  the  professor  ;  and,  said  they,  then  they  '11  have  him,  if  they  are  a 


312 


APPENDIX. 


people  of  any  taste  and  relish,  which  they  determined  that  you  were  ; 
and  I  must  needs  say  that  it  is  now  a  critical  juncture  ;  and  the  profes- 
sor's oflBce  seems  to  be  so  clogged  and  cumbered,  that  a  good  settlement 
would,  I  believe,  draw  him  from  his  professorship.  His  salary  is  but 
eighty  pounds  ;  though  Mv.  Colman,  who  is  one  of  the  corporation,  says 
his  endeavors  shan't  be  wanting  to  advance  it  to  one  himdred  and  twenty 
pounds  per  annum.  The  professor  is  not  one  of  the  corporation,  which 
seems  necessary,  not  only  to  dignify  his  office,  but  also  to  the  faithful 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  it.  He  has  been  chosen  into  the  corporation, 
but  disaccepted  by  the  overseers,  for  no  other  reason,  that  I  know  of,  but 
in  contradiction  to  them  that  elected  him  ;  for  you  know  that  there  is 
no  harmony  between  the  overseers  and  corporation.  He  is  on  all  hands 
allowed  to  be  a  meek  person,  and  I  apprehend  that  in  a  short  time  that 
matter  wiU  be  reconsidered,  and  he  allowed  and  confirmed  ;  when,  if  an 
advanced  salary  follows,  I  fancy  he  wdll  be  seated  and  fixed.  No  such 
suitable  person  as  he  can  be  found  for  that  business." 

MEETING    OF   THE    OVERSEERS   OF   THE   COLLEGE. 

"Last  Wednesday  (dated  October  14,  1723),  the  overseers  paid  a 
visit  to  that  venerable  lady,  our  Alma  Mater.  Their  business  was  an 
inquisition  into  the  state  of  afiarrs  ;  and  we  found  things  not  to  be  so  well 
as  we  could  have  wished.  Mr.  President  endeavored  to  beat  ofi"  the 
design's  proceeding,  but  was  conquered.  When  night  approached,  the 
wind  and  rain  were  perpetuous  ;  and  it  was  proposed  and  agreed  upon  to 
tarry  the  night  over,  and  perfect  the  business,  —  for  entry  only  had  been 
made.  While  the  matter  of  a  tarry  was  agitating,  Mr.  President  takes 
leave,  and  bids  good  night.  One  of  the  overseers  told  him  that  we 
intended  to  proceed  in  business,  and  expected  that  he  would  not  leave  us. 
To  these  he  gave  some  short,  slight,  contemptuous  reply,  and  went  off. 
This  then  raised  the  resentment  of  many ;  and  they  talked,  with  heat 
and  warmth,  of  Mr.  Leverett's  unworthy  treatment  of  them,  and  of 
sending  over  to  him  to  require  his  attendance,  &c.  Mr.  Appleton,  your 
classmate,  stood  by  all  this  while,  and  at  length  took  occasion  to  drop  off. 
'Twas  guessed,  and  he  could  not  deny  it,  that  he  had  been  over  to  inform 
Mr.  President  how  things  stood ;  for  the  president  came  over  in  a  very 
little  time,  in  the  utmost  good  humor,  and  sat  till  the  matter  was  entirely 
finished,  and  then  im-ited  several  over  to  take  a  lodging  with  him,  —  with 
whom  your  unworthy  brother  was  numbered,  but  did  not  go.  Thus  I 
have  given  you  a  summary  of  that  visitation." 

MR.    gee's   ordination. 

"  On  Wednesday  last,  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Gee  was  proceeded  in. 
The  ajBEiir  was  carried  on  with  so  much  seriousness  and  awful  reverence, 
that,  if  I  had  been  wavering  about  the  validity  of  our  ordination  before,  I 
ehould  have  been  then  fixed  and  established  by  the  solemnity  and  religious 


APPENDIX.  313 


devotion  visible  in  all  parties  at  the  sacred  action.     Every  man's  soul 
seemed  to  be  in  it." 

CHRIST   CHURCH. 

"  Yesterday  (December  30,  1723),  the  new  church  at  this  end  of  the 
town  was  met  in,  though  very  much  unfinished.  People  flocked  to  it  in 
abundance.  What  made  them  so  hasty  to  improve  it,  as  I  am  informed, 
was  because  Dr.  Culter's  salary  was  not  to  begin  till  he  began  to  preach 
there.  There  seems  to  be  a  considerable  strangeness  between  Harris  and 
Culter,  as  well  as  a  great  dislike  of  one  another ;  and  there  seems  to  be  a 
breach  among  their  people." 

REV.    MR.    ROGERS,    OF   PORTSMOUTH. 

"  I  know  not  how  to  begin  to  condole  the  sad  state  of  poor  Ports- 
mouth, in  the  awful  breach  made  upon  them  in  the  death  of  the  renowned 
Rogers,  —  so  every  way  valuable  and  worthy.  You  hardly  yet  begin  to 
feel  his  loss.  I  think  no  man  would  have  been  missed  so  much  as  he  in 
all  your  province.  The  ministry,  in  his  death,  have  a  breach  made  upon 
them,  wide  like  the  sea.  He  was  their  head.  But,  alas!  their  crown  is 
fallen.  I  seem  to  feel  a  heavy  share  in  his  loss.  The  news  of  his  death 
was  as  sadly  affecting  as  any  I  have  heard.  What  shall  I  say  of  him? 
My  father,  my  father !  may  Heaven  furnish  a  successor  for  you  that  may 
inherit  much  of  his  spirit !  Please  to  let  me  have  an  account  of  his 
funeral.  He  deserved  to  be  buried  in  the  city  of  David,  among  the 
kings.     When  he  died,  a  great  man  fell  in  Israel." 

MR.    WIGGLESWORTh's    "SOBER   REMARKS." 

' '  Here  are  some  sober  remarks  published  upon  a  book  called  *  A 
Modest  Proof  of  the  Order  and  Government  settled  by  Christ  and  his 
Apostles  in  his  Church.'  The  answerer  is  Master  Wigglesworth , — 
though  it  is  a  secret,  and  must  be  concealed.  Notwithstanding,  you  must 
not  think  them  all  made  by  the  same  hand.  Where  there  is  any  bitterness 
shown  in  them,  —  where  there  are  any  ungentlemanly  jeers, — that  excel- 
lent man  utterly  disclaims  them.  But  the  most  ingenious  and  argumenta- 
tive part  of  the  book  is  his.  But  I  really  entreat  you  not  to  mention  this 
on  any  account ;  for  he  is  greatly  solicitous  of  having  the  matter  remain  a 
secret.  He  industriously  conceals  himself;  and  there  are  but  three  or 
four,  at  most,  who  know  any  thing  about  it." 

SALUTE   ON   SUNDAY. 

"The  man-of-war  fired  her  guns  yesterday  (October  19,  1723).  It 
was  the  Lord's  day,  and  the  king's  coronation-day.  Methinks  we  had 
better  spare  an  empty  compliment  to  an  earthly  prince,  than  to  afiront 
the  King  of  kings,  and  bellow  out  our  profanations  of  his  holy  day." 

40 


314 


APPENDIX. 


L  — Page  189. 


In  1736,  the  society  were  desirous  of  settling  a  colleague 
with  Mr.  Welsteed.  There  had  recently  arrived  in  Boston,  Mr. 
William  Hooper,  a  native  of  Scotland ;  "  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  powers  of  mind,  of  a  noble  aspect,  an  eloquent,  popular 
preacher."*  The  society  were  much  attracted  by  his  gifts;  and, 
contrary  to  the  advice  of  Mr.  Welsteed,  extended  to  him  an  invi- 
tation to  settle  with  them.  His  reply  is  preserved  amongst  our 
church-papers. 

Mr.  Hooper  was  afterwards  ordained  over  the  West  Church, 
on  the  18th  of  May,  1737.  That  church  was  formed  on  his 
account.  He  continued  its  pastor  for  nine  years,  when  "he 
abdicated  without  a  formal  resignation,  and  went  to  England 
to  receive  Episcopal  ordination."  He  afterwards  returned  to 
Boston,  and  became  pastor  of  Trinity  Church. 


Mr.  Gray  was  ordained,  Sept.  27,  1738.  The  services  com- 
menced with  prayer  by  Mr.  Welsteed,  Dr.  Cooper  "  being  provi- 
dentially hindered."  Mr.  Gray  preached  from  Isaiah,  vi.  5 — 8  ; 
Mr.  Webb  made  the  prayer  after  the  sermon ;  Dr.  Colman  gave 
the  charge,  and  Dr.  Sewall  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  The 
Rev.  Nehemiah  Walter  joined  in  the  imposition  of  hands. 

Edward  Gray,  the  father  of  Ellis,  came  to  this  country  from 
England  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  He  served  his  time  with  Mr. 
Barton,  at  Barton's  Point  (so  called  after  him),  as  a  rope-maker. 
Dr.  Chauncy  preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  his  death, 
which  took  place  July  2,  1757,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his 
age.  He  speaks  of  him  in  the  highest  terms  of  eulogy,  which,  he 
says,  "  cannot,  as  is  usual,  disgust  any  one,  as  being  esteemed  a 
compliment  to  the  dead,  but  rather  as  his  just  character,  since 
he  was  a  person  so  unexceptionable,  so  unenvied,  unless  for  his 
goodness,  and  so  universally  well  spoken  of,  both  Avhile  living, 
and  now  he  is  dead."     He  married  twice.     His  first  wife  Avas 

*  Dr.  Lowell's  Historical  Discourse. 


APPENDIX.  315 

named  Harrison,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  ;  one  of  whom, 
named  Harrison,  was  treasurer  of  the  Province,  and  left  Boston 
with  the  British  troops,  March  17,  1776,  as  did  also  his  son.  His 
daughter  married  Samuel  A.  Otis,  father  of  the  present  Harrison 
Gray  Otis. 

On  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  a  Miss  Ellis,  —  a 
niece  of  Dr.  Colman's  wife.  Dr.  Colman  sent  for  her  from 
England,  with  a  view  to  this  marriage.  By  her  he  had  five 
children,  of  whom  the  oldest  was  our  Ellis  Gray.  He  married  a 
lady  by  the  name  of  Tyler.  Their  daughter  married  Mr.  Carey, 
late  of  Chelsea,  one  of  Avhose  daughters  was  the  second  wife  of 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Tuckerman.  A  grand-daughter  married  Judge 
Wilson,  one  of  Washington's  first  District  Judges  of  the  United 
States  Court ;  another,  Joseph  Hall,  late  Judge  of  Probate  for 
Suff"olk  County.  Dr.  Thomas  Gray,  of  Jamaica  Plain,  was  a  ne- 
phew of  Ellis  Gray. 


"  Voted,  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  in  such  way  as  shall  be  thought 
most  proper,  for  a  present  to  our  reverend  ministers." 

Votes  of  this  sort  occur  very  frequently. 


Mr.  Gray  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven ;  Mr.  Welsteed  at 
fifty-seven.  Their  portraits  hang  in  the  rooms  of  the  Historical 
Society.  The  bills  of  their  funeral  expenses  have  been  preserved. 
For  Mr.  Gray's  funeral  were  subscribed  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  pounds.  The  charges  were  six  hundred  and  fifty-three,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifteen  were  given  to  his  widow.  Some  of  the 
items  are  as  follows  :  "  Wine,  rum,  pipes,  tobacco,  —  ten  pounds. 
Shoes  and  cloggs.  Hose  and  gloves  "  to  a  very  large  amount. 
"  Necklace  for  the  negro.  A  large  beaver  hat  for  Mr.  Welsteed. 
Three  ditto  for  Mr.  Gray's  two  sons  and  negro.  Fifteen  candles. 
Black  shoe-buckles."  A  great  many  "  gold  rings.  Handker- 
chiefs. A  light  gray  bob  wig  for  Mr.  Welsteed.  Tolling  six 
bells,"  «Szc.  &c. 


316  APPENDIX. 

"  The  first  bell  was  hung  in  1743,  and  the  same  year  the  meeting- 
house was  for  the  first  time  painted.  This  bell  was  removed  and  sold 
in  1780 ;  and  the  bell  of  the  Old  North,  which  was  larger,  was  hung  in 
its  place.  It  was  injured  in  1792,  and  forbidden  to  be  rung,  except  in 
case  of  fire,  till  it  was  re-cast,  in  the  same  year,  and  was  the  first  bell 
from  the  foundry  of  the  late  Paul  Revere,  Esq.,  which  appears  by  the 
following  inscription  upon  it :  '  The  first  bell  cast  in  Boston,  1792,  by 
P.  Revere.'  "  —  Note  to  Mr.  Ware's  Century  Sermon. 


K.  — Page  191. 

Dr.  Pemberton  was  chosen  Dec.  31,  1753,  by  a  unanimous 
vote  of  the  churcli,  and  by  fifty-four  votes  of  the  congregation, 
two  persons  not  voting.  The  arrangement  of  services  at  his  ordi- 
nation has  not  been  recorded. 

"  July  10,  1759.  —  Voted,  that  the  Standing  Committee  be  desired  to 
wait  on  his  Honor,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson,  to  invite  him 
to  sit  in  the  fore  seat,  and  that  a  cushion  be  made  for  his  use. 

"  May  26,  1766.  —  On  a  motion  made  and  seconded  respecting  making 
our  elders'  seat  and  the  deacons'  seat  into  one,  as  it  has  lately  been  done 
at  Mr.  Cooper's  and  the  Old  North  Churches,  it  was  voted  unanimously, 
that  it  be  done  as  soon  as  may  be  ;  and  that  some  persons  go  with  a  car- 
penter and  see  how  the  alteration  is  at  the  Old  North  and  Mr.  Cooper's, 
that  so  ours  may  be  done  in  the  most  convenient  manner. 

"  July  14,  1767.  — Voted  to  have  electrical  points  or  wires  put  up  on 
the  steeple. 

"March  16,  1769. — ^Last  night  died  Deacon  Lee,  aged  ninety.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  deacons  of  this  church  from  the  year  1721,  and  one  of 
the  forty  proprietors  that  built  the  meeting-house.  He  outlived  all  his 
brethren  that  were  the  original  founders  of  this  church. 

"  1763,  Aug.  31.  —  On  hearing  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  is  soon 
expected,  the  committee  voted  unanimously  that  our  pastor  be  desired  to 
invite  him  to  preach  in  our  meeting-house  as  often  as  may  be  convenient, 
as  the  committee  apprehend  it  will  be  agreeable  to  the  greater  part  of  the 
people." 

An  attempt  was  several  times  made  to  settle  a  colleague  with 
Dr.  Pemberton.  In  1763  Mr.  Tennant  was  selected  for  this 
office,  and  some  action  of  the  church  was  taken  in  regard  to  him ; 
but  "  he  went  off,  and  so  the  matter  dropped." 


APPENDIX.  317 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1770,  Mr.  Isaac  Story  was  desired  by 
the  church  to  preach  as  a  candidate,  and  to  settle.  Dr.  Pember- 
ton  did  not  approve  of  this  choice. 

Mr.  Story  was  afterwards  settled  at  Marblehead,  and  Dr.  Pem- 
berton  preached  his  ordination-sermon. 


L.  —  Page  192. 

Dr.  Pemberton  had  three  wives :  one  named  Penhallow,  of 
Portsmouth  ;  another,  Powell.  It  is  said  there  is  a  portrait  of 
him  at  E.  P.  Cady's,  at  Plainfield,  Conn.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two. 

M.  — Page  193. 

At  the  time  when  Dr.  Stillman  and  Dr.  Pemberton  preached 
alternately  in  the  pulpit  of  the  latter,  the  custom  was  to  take  up 
a  contribution  for  the  payment  of  the  minister's  salary.  Both  the 
ministers  received  their  pay  from  the  same  box.  The  money 
intended  for  each  was  so  marked ;  and  all  the  unmarked  money 
was  divided  equally  between  them. 

Dr.  Pemberton's  salary  often  fell  short  of  the  amount  agreed 
upon.  He  relinquished  most  of  his  demands  against  the  parish, 
and  was  very  liberal  to  it. 


K  — Page  199. 

Deacon  John  Tudor  was  a  very  valuable  and  efficient  officer 
of  the  church  and  proprietors.  Amongst  other  donations,  he  gave 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  singing.  Every 
matter  of  interest  relating  to  the  affairs  of  the  church  and  congre- 
gation was  carefully  recorded  by  him.  The  greater  part  of  the 
votes  and  other  records  which  I  have  copied  from  the  books  of  the 
New  Brick  Church,  up  to  the  year  1781,  are  in  his  handwriting. 


318  APPENDIX. 

As  an  instance  of  his  accuracy  and  fidelity  in  relation  to  the 
records,  I  will  refer  to  a  single  additional  entry  of  his  in  the 
church-book  in  the  year  1772.  It  seems  that  Deacon  Lee,  his 
predecessor  in  the  office  of  treasurer,  had  omitted  to  give  an 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  disposed  of  a  certain  sum 
of  money  collected,  and  put  into  his  hands.  Deacon  Tudor  ex- 
plains the  transaction,  and  justifies  Deacon  Lee  by  the  following 
records.     He  writes  :  — 

"  There  was  a  collection,  I  remember,  in  many  of  the  congregational 
churches  in  1739  to  defend  a  lawsuit  unjustly  brought  against  Mr.  Torrey, 
the  minister  of  South  Kingston,  in  order  to  recover  the  parsonage  estate 
possessed  by  Mr.  Torrey.  The  estate  was  left  by  a  gentleman  for  the 
support  of  an  orthodox  minister  of  said  Kingston  ;  and,  as  I  remember,  one 
Doctor  M'Sparrow,  a  church-minister,  took  it  into  his  head  that  no  minis- 
ter was  orthodox  unless  he  ivas  ordained  by  a  bishop,  &c.  &c.  ;  so,  by  the 
help  of  some  no  better  than  himself,  he  brought  an  action  to  recover 
the  estate  for  himself  and  successors ;  but  he  failed  in  his  unjust  prose- 
cution." 

Deacon  Tudor  also  pasted  into  the  church-records  a  receipt  for 
thirty-five  pounds  ten  shillings  from  the  New  Brick  Congregation 
for  the  use  of  Mr.  Torrey  in  this  suit,  from  Deacon  Lee,  signed  by 
Dr.  Benjamin  Colman. 


When  Deacon  Samuel  Parkman  left  the  church,  to  unite  him- 
self with  the  New  North,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  his  son,  votes 
were  passed  expressive  of  the  high  regard  entertained  for  his  ser- 
vices ;  and  a  beautiful  and  costly  silver  pitcher  was  presented  to 
him,  with  the  following  inscription :  — 

^rrstntcU  £B.av  25,  1824, 
TO  SAMUEL  PAKKMAN,  ESQ. 

IN  MEMOBY  OF 
HIS     FAITHFUL     SERVICES     AND     DEVOTED     FRIENDSHtP, 

FOR     A     LONG     SERIES     OF     YEARS, 

AND  IN  VARIOUS  OFFICES. 


APPENDIX.  319 

The  following  memoranda  from  the  records  of  the  New  Brick 
Church  are  perhaps  worth  recording :  — 

"  1779,  August  2.  —  Received  from  Mr.  Thomas  Hitchborn,  who  had 
the  care  of  it,  a  red  velvet  pulpit-cusliion  and  case.  Note.  —  This  cushion 
was  deUvered  to  Brother  S.  Austin,  and  sold  to  the  first  church  in  Hing- 
ham  for  sis  cords  of  wood,  which,  on  November  13th,  was  brought  up  and 
carted  to  Mr.  Lathrop's  house. 

"  1779,  July  29.  —  The  Committee  met ;  but,  by  reason  of  a  most  ex- 
traordinary aifair  that  came  before  the  body  of  the  people  at  their  meeting 
at  Faneuil  Hall,  viz.  a  great  number  of  prisoners  being  in  town  in  prison, 
and  on  board  three  or  four  guard-ships,  had  laid  a  plot  to  break  jail,  &c., 
set  the  town  in  flames,  and  run  off  with  some  vessels,  —  therefore  the  Com- 
mittee adjourned." 

The  subjoined  notes  show  the  very  high  price  of  wood  in  1780, 
and  also  the  great  depreciation  of  the  currency  :  — 

"1780,  January.  —  Note. — The  Committee  desired  me  (J.  Tudor)  to 
get,  if  I  had  any  opportunity,  a  small  parcel  of  wood  for  Mr.  Lathrop,  on 
my  wharf,  for  the  present,  hoping  it  will  soon  be  cheaper.  They  ask  three 
hundred  dollars  a  cord  out  of  a  small  sloop  that  lays  at  my  wharf.  But  the 
people  will  not  give  it,  only  a  few  from  necessity.  But  I  got  half  a  cord 
of  south-shore  wood,  as  Mr.  Lathrop  was  out. 

"  1780,  March  28.  — Agreed  to  let  Mr.  Cunnmgham  have  the  two  old 
Connecticut  stones  that  lay  on  the  Old  North  land  for  half  a  cord  of  wood, 
to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Lathrop." 

In  December,  1780,  two  thousand  pounds  were  raised  to  pur- 
chase Dr.  Lathrop's  winter  wood. 


"  The  meeting-house  was  on  fire  at  the  south-east  end,  and  burnt 
through  the  roof,  from  the  fire  from  Hitchborn's,  &c.  The  south  part 
caught  when  Dr.  Clark's  great  bam  was  burnt.  The  steeple  cauglit  when 
the  joiner's  shop  was  burnt  opposite  to  it,  and  the  top  in  danger  several 
times  ;  after  which  we  put  on  a  turret,  and,  through  the  favor  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  church,  it  has  been  preserved  to  this ;  July,  1779." 


"  1781.  — The  tub  of  the  Old  North  engine,  then  the  largest  in  Bos- 
ton, was  brought  into  the  meeting  in  order  that  a  child  about  ten  years 
old  might,  at  the  particular  request  of  the  mother,  be  baptized  l)y  immer- 
sion." 


320 


APPENDIX. 


The  parsonage-house  for  Dr.  Lathrop  was  built  on  the  land 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Old  North  Meeting-house.  Subscrip- 
tions were  obtained  to  assist  in  the  purchase  of  it. 


N.B. — A  considerable  amount  of  matter,  for  which  I  have 
not  been  able  to  find  room  here,  may  be  seen  in  the  Appendix  to 
my  Historical  Sermons,  preached  March  10,  1844. 


The  following  wood-cut,  representing  the  New  Brick  Church, 
has  been  introduced  at  the  desire  of  some  of  the  older  members 
of  the  Society  :  — 


BX7150.B7S4R6 

A  history  of  the  Second  church,  or  Old 

Pripceton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00020  7946 


